A.8.1. Magnesium-Aluminium-Zinc Alloy
PRODUCT
Type			Metal Alloy
Chemical Composition			8.5% Al, 0.5% Zn, Rem. Mg
Manufacturer	Magnesium Elektron PO Box 23, Swinton Manchester M27 8DD UK			Tel: + 44 (0)161 911 1000 Fax: + 44 (0)161 911 1010 Email: www.magnesium-elektron.com/
EXPERIENCE & AVAILABILITY
Development Status			Commercial Product
Cost Range			Low
Lot Reproducibility			ASTM AZ80; AZ85, DIN 1729, MgAl8Zn
Space Experience			Good
GENERAL PROPERTIES (Physical, Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical, Optical)
Nature			Typical Value		Remarks
Specific Gravity			1.80		@ Room Temperature
Ultimate Tensile Strength			235 to 330 MPa		@ Room Temperature
Proof Stress (0.2%)			150 to 227 MPa		@ Room Temperature
Elongation at Break			2 to 9%		@ Room Temperature
Thermal Conductivity			90 W m^-1 °C^-1		@ Room Temperature
Thermal Expansion Coefficient			26 to 27 x 10^-6 °C^-1		@ Room Temperature
Electrical Resistivity			1.4 x 10^-7 W m		@ Room Temperature
PROPERTIES RELEVANT TO SPACE USE
Nature		Typical Value				Type of Test
Corrosion		Has poor resistance to atmospheric corrosion and should always be protected.
Stress Corrosion		Is prone to stress corrosion cracking in air, fresh water, sea water and salt solutions. Not suitable for structural applications, see ECSS-Q-70-36.
Temperature Range		Maximum application temperature is 150°C.
SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS
· The part should be Lanolin covered or oiled at all times during machining and prior to protective treatments so as to avoid corrosion. · Protective treatments can be either: 1. Anodising and painting, 2. Chromating and painting. · The part should never make direct contact with other metals. Magnesium is more electrochemically negative than all other commonly used metals and will therefore be sacrificially corroded in any electrochemical cell that is created.