Comparison of superplastic forming abilities of elektron 43 alloy and as-cast AZ91 alloy prepared by twin roll casting

Magnesium alloys are the lowest practical density metallic alloys, and as suchare emerging as an innovative solution to the problem of vehicle light weighting [1].In conjunction with advanced forming techniques such as superplastic forming(SPF) they offer an attractive solution within low volume vehicle production. Most magnesium alloys appear to be capable of SPF with little, or no, modification to their manufacturing route [2]. The material condition after twin roll casting is often suitable for direct manufacturing by SPF. This combination could be attractive to the high end automotive market and be competitive with carbon fibre processing for panels and closures [3].This work looked at the formability of two different alloys within SPF processes to assess their suitability for such applications Comparison of Superplastic Forming Abilities of Elektron 43 Alloy and As-Cast AZ91 Alloy Prepared by Twin Roll Casting