Designing methodology yields copper-containing magnesium alloys with good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance

Abstract

Designing novel magnesium alloys is a challenging task. There are many limitations to consider if your goal is in anyway related to the expansion of the somewhat well-established list of available alloy systems. For example, most elements have a low solubility in magnesium and exploring the rare large solid solution regions of some heavy elements in magnesium is a troublesome endeavor as the usage of these heavy elements eliminates one the greatest motivations for adopting magnesium alloys: their low density. In this research, a methodology for screening novel magnesium alloy systems with good mechanical properties is presented. The methodology developed not only predicts the existence of already known alloys, but it is also able to point towards new systems (verified experimentally). The theoretical background needed to support and understand this methodology is solid and well known among the magnesium research community. Lastly, its simplicity allows it to be readily adopted to the majority of researches that see value in its results. In addition, the path taken was not only able to uncover new alloy families, but also introduce the feasibility of using a new alloying element in magnesium alloys.