Production, processing and properties of lithium-containing Mg-alloys

Growing environmental pollution and further decrease of natural resources are demanding the development of new light-weight materials with good recycling potential, high specific mechanical properties and universal workability. Low density and good plastic formability predestinate b.c.c MgLi alloys as an attractive alternative for structural applications. But until now insufficient technological properties such as room temperature creep and high corrosion mainly caused by Li diffusion have limited the commercial use of this alloy group to Russian and American aerospace and military projects. Ongoing research activities of the Institut fur Werkstoffkunde der Universitat Hannover are focused on expanding their application potential. The paper is intended to give a comprehensive survey of the present R&D work. Beside illustrating available techniques for the production, processing and testing of ingot and powder metallurgical materials, microstructural influences of further alloying components like Si and Ca as well as of rapid solidification and thermomechanical treatments will be described. Considering the corresponding mechanical and corrosive behaviour the results are finally discussed in view of improving the technological properties of b.c.c. MgLi alloys.