Magnesium is the lightest among structural metals. With its density of 1.74g/cm3 it is 30% lighter than aluminum and 70% lighter than steel. Magnesium also has superior vibration damping capacity, excellent electro-magnetic and radiofrequency shielding capabilities and can be completely recycled. Not less important, magnesium is an abundant element (about 2.7%) of the earth’s crust, therefore practically inexhaustible.
A magnesium alloy component can be made through manufacturing processes that use the technologies commonly used for other metals: casting process, semi-finished forging process, extrusion and laminate assembly, machining of a rolled product to machine tools and for Stamping Die.
A manufacturing process that starts from the product plastically deformed in heat (ex. Laminate) and finishes the piece by secondary machining machine processes generally leads to obtaining better properties, however, due to the considerable complexity of the process and high costs. On the other hand, a conventional casting process is characterized by a low cost, but at the expense of the low mechanical characteristics obtainable on the material.
The excellent castability and the possibility of making very complex and thin-walled parts make high-pressure die-casting the most advantageous technology in many industrial Stamping Die applications.
The components made by high pressure die-casting are widely used in the automotive sector, mainly aimed at weight reduction, and in electronic devices with the replacement of plastics and consequent lightening and sturdiness of the systems. Stamping Die applications can be extended to other fields, namely sports, leisure time, electric tools, etc.
The continuous search for a technology that would allow to reduce costs and, at the same time, improve the mechanical properties of the material, has led to different developments: among these, it is believed that the emerging technology of transformation into semi-solid has characteristics capable of meet these requirements.
The thermal conductivity of magnesium is much higher than that of plastic. Electronic equipment enclosures can dissipate the heat produced by the circuits more efficiently than those made of plastic, preserving the characteristics of lightness and portability linked to Stamping Die. Magnesium housings provide better electromagnetic shielding compared to similar metallized plastic products.
Magnesium alloys have lower resistance to cutting tools than most metallic materials. This makes it possible to return them and mill them at high speed, saving on processing times and costs and on tool wear. The ability of these alloys to acquire a high surface finish that often does not require the use of further processing.
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