Development of a High Strength Magnesium Alloy for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing

Due to their high specific strength, magnesium alloys are promising materials for further lightweighting in mobility applications. In contrast to casting and forming processes, additive manufacturing methods allow high degrees of geometrical freedom and can generate significant weight reductions due to load-specific part design. In wire arc additive manufacturing processes, large parts can be produced with high material utilization. Process-inherent high melt temperatures and solidification rates allow for the use of magnesium alloys which are otherwise complicated to process; this enables the use of unconventional alloying systems. Here, we report the development of a Mg-Al-Zn-Ca-rare earth alloy for wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Compared to parts made of commercially available filler wire, the newly developed alloy achieves a higher strength (approx. +9 MPa yield strength, +25 MPa ultimate tensile strength) in WAAM.