1. Strength: Magnesium alloys are stronger than pure magnesium. By alloying magnesium with other elements like aluminum, zinc, manganese, and rare-earth metals, the alloy becomes more robust and can withstand higher stresses and loads.
2. Hardness: Magnesium alloys are also harder than pure magnesium, which improves wear resistance and makes them less susceptible to surface damage and scratching.
3. Corrosion resistance: Pure magnesium is prone to corrosion, especially in environments with high humidity or exposure to salt. However, magnesium alloys exhibit better corrosion resistance, thanks to the alloying elements that form protective layers on the metal's surface.
4. Formability: While magnesium itself has good formability, alloying can enhance its plastic deformation behavior, allowing for easier shaping and fabrication of complex components.
5. Creep resistance: Creep is the tendency of a material to deform slowly under sustained stress. Magnesium alloys have improved creep resistance compared to pure magnesium, which is important for automotive applications where stability under varying loads is crucial.
6. Castability: Magnesium alloys offer excellent castability, making it easier to produce components with intricate geometries through processes such as die casting and sand casting.
7. Weight savings: Both magnesium alloys and pure magnesium are lightweight materials, but alloying can further reduce the density without significantly compromising other properties. This weight reduction is advantageous for achieving fuel efficiency and reducing overall vehicle weight.
Overall, magnesium alloys are preferred over pure magnesium for automotive applications due to their improved strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, formability, creep resistance, castability, and weight savings. These properties contribute to better performance, durability, and efficiency in automotive manufacturing.
