{ "spore": "profile", "id": "magnesium-az61", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "magnesium-alloys", "name": "Magnesium alloy AZ61", "abbreviation": "AZ61", "role": "forged structural alloy", "category": "metals", "type": "magnesium", "summary": "AZ61 is a magnesium alloy with about 6 wt% aluminium and 1 wt% zinc. A 2021 study forged sand-cast AZ61 preforms into aircraft mount parts in one die-hammer operation, and hardness rose from 63.6 to 75.5 HV05 after heat treatment. The ASTM B91 forging minimum is 262 MPa tensile and 151.7 MPa yield, and the Goodfellow rod listing gives 310 MPa tensile in the as-drawn condition.\n", "best_for": "Forged structural parts such as aircraft mounts, made from a cast preform and kept out of salt water (the 2021 study forged this way)", "weakest_at": "Corrosion in chloride solutions (the readable sources give trends, not an AZ61 rate), and fire risk from magnesium metal (element-level GHS statements)", "identity": { "formula": "Mg-Al-Zn alloy: Al 5.8 to 7.2 wt%, Zn 0.4 to 1.5 wt%, Mn 0.15 to 0.5 wt%, Si max 0.10, Cu max 0.05, Ni max 0.005, Fe max 0.005, Mg balance (PMC Table 1). Nominal Mg 93, Al 6, Zn 1 (Goodfellow listing, printed as Mg 93/Al 6/Zn 1).", "designations": [ { "system": "UNS", "code": "M11610", "source": "azom-az61a-uns", "where": "Page title and heading: Grade AZ61A (UNS M11610)" }, { "system": "Name", "code": "AZ61A", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Page title: Magnesium Alloy AZ61A" }, { "system": "Name", "code": "AZ61A-F", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Round Bar material names" }, { "system": "ASTM", "code": "B91", "note": "forgings", "source": "totalmateria-astm-b91-az61a", "where": "Specification line: B91: 2017 / Magnesium-Alloy Forgings" }, { "system": "ASTM", "code": "B107", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Specifications list" }, { "system": "AMS", "code": "4350", "note": "AZ61A-F extrusions", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Specifications list" }, { "system": "QQ", "code": "QQ-M-40B", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Specifications list" }, { "system": "Name", "code": "EN1753 MG-P-63", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Specifications list, European / AECMA line" }, { "system": "EN", "code": "3.5612", "source": "aircraftmaterials-az61a", "where": "Specifications list, Werkstoff 3.5612" }, { "system": "EN name", "code": "MgAl6Zn1", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "EN designation line" } ], "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Table 1 (composition, wt%); Goodfellow rod listing for the nominal composition and the MgAl6Zn1 formula" }, "tags": { "environments": [], "stresses": [], "applications": [ "structures" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, rod listing", "value": 1.8, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "not stated", "basis": "value on the rod listing, printed rounded to one decimal place" }, "method": "Physical Properties table of a supplier rod listing", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Physical Properties table, Density row (printed as gcm-3)", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "melting_point", "label": "Melting range", "value": 525, "value_high": 610, "bound": "range", "unit": "°C", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "range as printed on the rod listing" }, "method": "Thermal Properties table of a supplier rod listing", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Thermal Properties table, Melting point row (printed 525-610)", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_heat", "label": "Specific heat capacity", "value": 1050, "bound": "exact", "unit": "J/(kg·K)", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "23 °C" }, "method": "Thermal Properties table of a supplier rod listing (printed as J K-1 kg-1)", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Thermal Properties table, Specific heat row (printed 1050@23°C)", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity", "label": "Thermal conductivity", "value": 79.5, "bound": "exact", "unit": "W/(m·K)", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "0 °C" }, "method": "Thermal Properties table of a supplier rod listing (printed as W m-1 K-1)", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Thermal Properties table, Thermal conductivity row (printed 79.5@0°C)", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "cte", "label": "Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 °C", "value": 26, "bound": "exact", "unit": "ppm/K", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature_range": "20 to 100 °C", "unit_in_source": "x10-6 K-1 (same as ppm/K)" }, "method": "Thermal Properties table of a supplier rod listing", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Thermal Properties table, Coefficient of thermal expansion row (printed 26@20-100°C)", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, rod listing, as drawn", "value": 310, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temper": "As Drawn (printed on the listing)", "product_form": "rod", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Mechanical Properties table of a supplier rod listing", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Mechanical Properties table, Tensile strength row", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "elongation", "label": "Elongation at break, rod listing, as drawn", "value": 16, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temper": "As Drawn (printed on the listing)", "product_form": "rod", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Mechanical Properties table of a supplier rod listing", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Mechanical Properties table, Elongation at break row", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "shear_strength", "label": "Shear strength, rod listing, as drawn", "value": 140, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temper": "As Drawn (printed on the listing)", "product_form": "rod" }, "method": "Mechanical Properties table of a supplier rod listing", "status": "ground", "note": "Not in spores/property-canon.yaml; the snake_case name shear_strength is used.", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Mechanical Properties table, Shear strength row", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "electrical_resistivity", "label": "Electrical resistivity, rod listing", "value": 12.5, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µOhm·cm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "product_form": "rod", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Electrical Properties table of a supplier rod listing (printed as µOhmcm)", "status": "ground", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Electrical Properties table, Electrical resistivity row (printed 12.5)", "source_detail": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength minimum, ASTM B91 forgings", "value": 262, "bound": "lower", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "product_form": "forgings (ASTM B91, 2017)", "temperature_range": "0 to 30 °C", "basis": "specification minimum, not a typical value" }, "method": "Mechanical properties minimum listed for B91 on a standards database page", "status": "ground", "source": "totalmateria-astm-b91-az61a", "where": "Mechanical properties table, Tensile strength row (listed as at least 262 MPa, 0-30 °C)", "source_detail": { "title": "TotalMateria: ASTM B91 AZ61A magnesium alloy forgings, specification minimums", "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3130104", "kind": "database", "license": "Database page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "yield_strength", "label": "Yield strength Rp0.2 minimum, ASTM B91 forgings", "value": 151.7, "bound": "lower", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "product_form": "forgings (ASTM B91, 2017)", "temperature_range": "0 to 30 °C", "basis": "specification minimum, not a typical value" }, "method": "Mechanical properties minimum listed for B91 on a standards database page", "status": "ground", "source": "totalmateria-astm-b91-az61a", "where": "Mechanical properties table, Yield strength Rp0.2 row (listed as at least 151.7 MPa, 0-30 °C)", "source_detail": { "title": "TotalMateria: ASTM B91 AZ61A magnesium alloy forgings, specification minimums", "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3130104", "kind": "database", "license": "Database page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "elongation", "label": "Elongation minimum, ASTM B91 forgings", "value": 6, "bound": "lower", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "product_form": "forgings (ASTM B91, 2017)", "temperature_range": "0 to 30 °C", "basis": "specification minimum, not a typical value" }, "method": "Mechanical properties minimum listed for B91 on a standards database page", "status": "ground", "source": "totalmateria-astm-b91-az61a", "where": "Mechanical properties table, Elongation A row (listed as at least 6 %, 0-30 °C)", "source_detail": { "title": "TotalMateria: ASTM B91 AZ61A magnesium alloy forgings, specification minimums", "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3130104", "kind": "database", "license": "Database page, cited and not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "hardness_vickers", "label": "Hardness HV05, forging II after forging and heat treatment", "value": 75.5, "bound": "exact", "unit": "HV05", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "cast preform forged in one operation, then heat treated (Section 2.2 solution treatment 415 °C for 6 h, water cooling; aging 175 °C for 24 h, air cooling)", "test": "HV0.5 per PN-EN ISO 6507-1:2006 (as printed)", "spread": "std. dev. 1.6 (printed)" }, "method": "Hardness table, mean HV05 (Table 7)", "status": "ground", "note": "Not in spores/property-canon.yaml; the snake_case name hardness_vickers is used. A single study value.", "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Section 2.3 and Table 7, row Forging II after forging and heat treatment (mean 75.5, std. dev. 1.6)", "source_detail": { "title": "Dziubinska, Surdacki and Majerski: AZ61 sand-cast preform forging for aircraft mounts, Materials 2021, 14(10):2593", "id": "PMC8156473; Materials 2021, 14(10), 2593", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8156473", "year": 2021, "kind": "paper", "license": "PMC copy of the journal article, cited and not reproduced" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Extruded AZ61 coupons in aerated 3.5 wt% NaCl at room temperature (immersion), and in 3.5 wt% NaCl spray at 35 °C alternating with humid and drying stages (cyclic), over 60 h", "headline": "The study compares immersion and salt spray for AZ61 but the readable text gives no corrosion rate.", "effect": "Salt-spray coupons lost less weight and gained weight; both trends were described as linear (Figure 1). Immersion coupons lost less thickness than salt-spray coupons; both followed a logarithmic trend (Figure 2). The figures are image-only, so no numbers are recorded.", "rating": "unknown", "conditions": { "temperature": "room temperature (immersion); 35 °C (spray)", "duration": "over 60 h", "alloy": "extruded AZ61 (composition not stated on the page)" }, "source": "cavs-az61-corrosion", "where": "Results, Figures 1 and 2 (captions); Methods text" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "PubChem's aggregated GHS reports for magnesium metal (2,205 company reports from 27 ECHA notifications) give flammable solid (44.9%), pyrophoric solid (36.5%) and self-heating (18%). The hazard statements printed are H250 (catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air) and H260 (in contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously). 18.4% of reports (405 of 2,205) say the element does not meet GHS criteria. These are element-level statements, not a classification of AZ61 as supplied.", "ghs": [ "H250", "H260" ], "source": "pubchem-mg", "where": "Safety and Hazards, Hazards Identification, GHS Classification (CID 5462224)" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Chloride corrosion of uncoated AZ61", "trigger": "Immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl or cyclic salt spray (study conditions)", "consequence": "Extruded coupons lost thickness over 60 h; the readable text gives trends only, not a rate", "severity": "moderate", "source": "cavs-az61-corrosion", "where": "Results, Figures 1 and 2; Methods" }, { "mode": "Fire or flammable gas from magnesium metal", "trigger": "Contact with water (H260) or exposure to air of pyrophoric forms (H250)", "consequence": "The GHS statements say the element can release flammable gas or catch fire spontaneously (element-level, not the alloy as supplied)", "severity": "high", "source": "pubchem-mg", "where": "GHS Classification, H250 and H260 statements (CID 5462224)" } ], "side_effects": [], "handling": [ { "text": "The GHS statements say that contact with water releases flammable gas (H260). Keep the metal dry and away from water.", "source": "pubchem-mg", "where": "GHS Classification, H260 statement (CID 5462224)" }, { "text": "PubChem lists fire extinguishing agents not to be used as water, foam, halogenated agents and carbon dioxide, and inert dry powders as the agents to use.", "source": "pubchem-mg", "where": "Safety and Hazards, Fire Fighting, Fire Extinguishing Agents" }, { "text": "The Goodfellow rod listing says a US regulation safety data sheet is available and that other languages can be supplied on request. Read the SDS for the exact product before cutting, grinding or welding.", "source": "goodfellow-az61-rod", "where": "Product page, SDS notice" } ], "mitigations": [] }, "uses": [ { "application": "structures", "device": "Aircraft mount forgings", "example": "The 2021 study forged sand-cast AZ61 preforms into aircraft mount forgings in one die-hammer operation, and compared the process with forging from extruded rod.", "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Abstract; Section 3.1 (material consumption)" }, { "application": "structures", "device": "Aerospace and automotive parts", "example": "The study says AZ61 is of interest to the aerospace and automotive industries. This is a general statement, not a list of parts.", "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Section 1 (Introduction), sentence on AZ61" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "Magnesium metal, world primary (smelter) production (AZ61 is made from this metal; no alloy-specific supply data was read)", "abundance": "USGS: resources for magnesium range from large to virtually unlimited and are globally widespread. Magnesium-bearing brines are estimated to constitute a resource in the billions of tons.", "producers": [ { "country": "China", "share_percent": 87.7, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Russia", "share_percent": 5.5, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Brazil", "share_percent": 1.8, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Israel", "share_percent": 1.8, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Turkey", "share_percent": 1.4, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Kazakhstan", "share_percent": 1.2, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Iran", "share_percent": 0.5, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "United States", "share_percent": 0, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [ { "list": "USGS 2025 final List of Critical Minerals (magnesium; page read through the fetch tool)", "listed": true } ], "recycling": "USGS: In 2025, about 26,000 tons of secondary magnesium was recovered from old scrap and 82,000 tons from new scrap.", "substitutes": [ "USGS: Aluminum and zinc may substitute for magnesium in castings and wrought products. The relatively light weight of magnesium is an advantage over aluminum and zinc in most applications; however, its high cost is a disadvantage relative to these substitutes." ], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-magnesium-metal", "where": "World Primary Production and Reserves table, smelter production 2025 (world total 1,100 thousand t, rounded; shares calculated by Space Mushroom over the listed 2025 values, sum 1,083 thousand t). Domestic Production and Use: 69% of 2025 primary consumption went into castings, principally automotive. Recycling and Substitutes sections. US smelter production shown as a dash." }, { "subject": "Magnesium metal (99.8% purity) imported to the United States, 2021 to 2024", "producers": [ { "country": "Israel", "share_percent": 47 }, { "country": "Turkey", "share_percent": 31 }, { "country": "Russia", "share_percent": 8 }, { "country": "China", "share_percent": 6 } ], "critical_lists": [], "substitutes": [], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-magnesium-metal", "where": "Import Sources (2021-24), magnesium metal (99.8% purity) row; the other 8% is not listed by country" } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group" }, { "title": "AircraftMaterials technical data sheet: Magnesium Alloy AZ61A", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://aircraftmaterials.com/data/magnesium/az61a.html" }, { "title": "AZoM: Grade AZ61A (UNS M11610) Extrusions", "type": "database", "url": "https://www.azom.com/metals/magnesium-alloy_grade-az61a-(uns-m11610)_extrusions" }, { "title": "Dziubinska, Surdacki and Majerski (2021), Materials 14(10):2593: AZ61 sand-cast preforms forged into aircraft mounts (PMC copy)", "type": "paper", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8156473", "year": 2021 }, { "title": "TotalMateria: ASTM B91 AZ61A magnesium alloy forgings, specification minimums", "type": "database", "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3130104" }, { "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Magnesium Metal", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-magnesium-metal.pdf", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals", "type": "report", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals", "year": 2025 }, { "title": "PubChem: Magnesium, CID 5462224, Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification", "type": "database", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462224" }, { "title": "Mississippi State University CAVS: AZ61 extruded magnesium corrosion (immersion and cyclic salt spray)", "type": "report", "url": "https://www.cavs.msstate.edu/icme/Magnesium/corrosion/AZ61Corrosion.php" } ], "gaps": [ "media: no image was fetched or licence-checked for this profile, so there is no media list. The lithium profile carries Wikimedia images under CC licences; none were read here.", "Base AZ61 corrosion rate: no readable source with a unit was found. The Chen et al. 2015 conference abstract (Atlantis Press) gives 2.19 and 2.87 mm/a for AZ61 with 1% Ca added. That is a different alloy, so it is not used. The MSU CAVS page prints no rates; its figures are image-only.", "Yield strength of the rod listing: the Goodfellow page prints tensile (310 MPa) and shear (140 MPa) but no yield value for the as-drawn rod.", "AircraftMaterials AZ61A-F round bar values (ultimate 46, 45 and 45; yield 33, 33 and 31; elongation 17, 16 and 15) print no units, so they are not recorded.", "Goodfellow hardness (printed as Hardness - Brinell, 60) prints no unit on the page, so it is not recorded.", "Alloys International AZ61A-F page: no values printed. MakeItFrom, MDPI (site) and MachineMFG returned HTTP 403 to the fetch tool. The MDPI paper was read through its PMC copy.", "PMC Table 6 electrical conductivity (MS/m, 8.22 to 9.04) is printed, but it is not a canonical property name, so it is left out.", "PMC conclusions give Rm 250 MPa (new technology) and 292 MPa (bar forging, citing reference 35). No test condition is printed, and the reference list identifies that reference as another paper, so both are left out.", "Elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, fatigue, compressive yield, and space or cryogenic data: not found in a readable source.", "Uses: both use entries come from one study (PMC 2021) and the USGS statement about castings. Automotive forged parts named on a vendor copy were not fetched and are not recorded.", "ISO and ASTM B90 designations for AZ61 are not confirmed. The ASTM B91 page lists forgings. The sheet and plate specification for AZ61 was not read.", "Supply shares: calculated by Space Mushroom from the 2025 USGS smelter production values (sum 1,083 thousand t), the same way as the AZ31B profile. The supply data is for magnesium metal, not AZ61 alone.", "Fire and reactivity GHS data are element-level. No AZ61 safety data sheet was opened.", "Severity ratings in failure_risks (high, moderate) are the profile writer's judgement, not a source value." ], "story": { "why": "AZ61 is a magnesium alloy with about 6% aluminium. The 2021 study chose it for aircraft mount forgings because sand-cast preforms could be shaped near the final part and forged in one operation. The USGS says 69% of 2025 primary magnesium consumption went into castings, principally automotive, so forged parts are a smaller share of the market.", "uses": [ { "where": "Aircraft mount forgings", "line": "The 2021 study forged sand-cast AZ61 preforms into aircraft mount forgings in one die-hammer operation." }, { "where": "Aerospace and automotive parts", "line": "The study says AZ61 is of interest to the aerospace and automotive industries." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Weight", "line": "The Goodfellow rod listing gives density as 1.8 g/cm3.", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material", "value": "1.8 g/cm3" }, { "label": "Strength, as drawn rod", "line": "The Goodfellow rod listing gives 310 MPa tensile and 16% elongation at break, as drawn.", "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "scope": "material", "value": "310 MPa tensile" }, { "label": "Forging minimum", "line": "ASTM B91 forgings are listed at least 262 MPa tensile, 151.7 MPa yield and 6% elongation, at 0 to 30 °C.", "benchmark": "yield_strength", "scope": "material", "value": "262 MPa tensile, 151.7 MPa yield" }, { "label": "Heat conduction", "line": "Thermal conductivity is 79.5 W/(m·K) at 0 °C on the Goodfellow rod listing.", "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity", "scope": "material", "value": "79.5 W/(m·K)" }, { "label": "Thermal expansion", "line": "The Goodfellow listing gives a mean coefficient of thermal expansion of 26 ppm/K over 20 to 100 °C.", "benchmark": "cte", "scope": "material", "value": "26 ppm/K" } ], "compare": "The USGS says aluminium and zinc may substitute for magnesium in castings and wrought products. Magnesium's light weight is an advantage over them in most applications, but its high cost is a disadvantage. This profile holds no strength-per-mass figures for aluminium or zinc, so it does not rank AZ61 against them.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Density", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Thermal conductivity", "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Thermal expansion", "benchmark": "cte", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Keep the metal dry. The GHS statements say contact with water releases flammable gas (H260).", "Read the supplier's safety data sheet before cutting, grinding or welding. The Goodfellow listing says one is available.", "Use the fire agents PubChem lists. Water, foam, halogenated agents and carbon dioxide are listed as agents not to be used." ], "good_for": [ "Forged structural parts such as aircraft mounts, the use the 2021 study tested.", "Parts made from a cast preform. The study says forging from sand-cast preforms used about 18% to 47% less material than forging from extruded rod.", "Light parts. Density is 1.8 g/cm3 on the Goodfellow listing." ], "watch_out": [ "Corrosion in chloride. The MSU study immersed and salt-sprayed extruded AZ61 for 60 h. The readable page gives trends, not a rate.", "Condition. The 310 MPa figure is for as-drawn rod, the 262 and 151.7 MPa figures are ASTM B91 forging minimums, and the 75.5 HV05 hardness is after the study's heat treatment.", "Fire. The GHS statements for magnesium metal are element-level: H250 and H260." ], "verdict": "AZ61 is a light magnesium alloy with about 6% aluminium and 1% zinc, a density of 1.8 g/cm3, and a 2021 study showing it can be forged from cast preforms into aircraft mounts. The readable sources describe its corrosion in salt solutions only as trends, so no base-alloy corrosion rate is recorded.", "recipe": { "line": "Wrought-grade Mg-Al-Zn alloy with about 6 wt% aluminium and 1 wt% zinc (Goodfellow nominal: Mg 93, Al 6, Zn 1). In the 2021 study the alloy was sand cast as a preform, annealed at 415 °C for 24 h, solution treated at 415 °C for 6 h with water cooling, and aged at 175 °C for 24 h (Section 2.2).", "parts": [ { "name": "Magnesium", "symbol": "Mg", "role": "The base metal and the balance of the alloy.", "share_note": "balance", "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Table 1, Mg row (balance)" }, { "name": "Aluminium", "symbol": "Al", "role": "Main alloying addition.", "share_percent": 5.8, "share_high": 7.2, "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Table 1, Al row (wt%)" }, { "name": "Zinc", "symbol": "Zn", "role": "Second alloying addition.", "share_percent": 0.4, "share_high": 1.5, "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Table 1, Zn row (wt%)" }, { "name": "Manganese", "symbol": "Mn", "role": "Minor addition.", "share_percent": 0.15, "share_high": 0.5, "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Table 1, Mn row (wt%)" }, { "name": "Impurity limits", "symbol": "Si, Cu, Ni, Fe", "role": "Limits on impurities.", "share_note": "maximum: Si 0.10, Cu 0.05, Ni 0.005, Fe 0.005", "source": "pmc-az61-forging", "where": "Table 1, Si, Cu, Ni and Fe rows" } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For people", "lead": "The only hazard data opened is PubChem's GHS data for magnesium metal. It is element-level, not a classification of AZ61 as supplied.", "points": [ { "label": "Fire statements", "line": "Magnesium metal is listed as catching fire spontaneously if exposed to air (H250) and as releasing flammable gases on contact with water (H260)." } ], "gap": "No safety data sheet for the alloy was opened, and no dust or fume data for machining or welding was found." }, { "title": "If it fails", "lead": "The failure routes come from the corrosion study and the GHS statements.", "points": [ { "label": "Chloride corrosion", "line": "Extruded AZ61 coupons were immersed or salt-sprayed for 60 h. The study reports trends for the weight and thickness loss, not a rate." } ] }, { "title": "Handling and storage", "points": [ { "label": "Water", "line": "Contact with water releases flammable gas (H260), so keep the metal dry." }, { "label": "Fire", "line": "PubChem lists water, foam, halogenated agents and carbon dioxide as agents not to be used on a magnesium fire." } ] } ] }, "updated": "2026-10-26", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 13, "unreachable": 4, "caveats": 6, "note": "Written 2026-10-26 from pages fetched in this run (fetch tool, curl and PubChem JSON). Values are as printed. Caveats: density rounded (1.8); the strength minimums are ASTM B91 forging limits, not rod values; hardness is one study; no base-alloy corrosion rate was readable; the composition is from a 2021 study table and the nominal from a rod listing." }, "sources": { "goodfellow-az61-rod": { "title": "Goodfellow: AZ61 Magnesium Rod, product listing with material properties", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/az61-rod-group", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced" }, "aircraftmaterials-az61a": { "title": "AircraftMaterials technical data sheet: Magnesium Alloy AZ61A (composition, specifications)", "url": "https://aircraftmaterials.com/data/magnesium/az61a.html", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Stockist web page, cited and not reproduced" }, "azom-az61a-uns": { "title": "AZoM: Grade AZ61A (UNS M11610) Extrusions", "url": "https://www.azom.com/metals/magnesium-alloy_grade-az61a-(uns-m11610)_extrusions", "kind": "database", "license": "Web page, cited and not reproduced" }, "pmc-az61-forging": { "title": "Dziubinska, Surdacki and Majerski: AZ61 sand-cast preform forging for aircraft mounts, Materials 2021, 14(10):2593", "id": "PMC8156473; Materials 2021, 14(10), 2593", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8156473", "year": 2021, "kind": "paper", "license": "PMC copy of the journal article, cited and not reproduced" }, "totalmateria-astm-b91-az61a": { "title": "TotalMateria: ASTM B91 AZ61A magnesium alloy forgings, specification minimums", "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3130104", "kind": "database", "license": "Database page, cited and not reproduced" }, "usgs-mcs2026-magnesium-metal": { "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Magnesium Metal", "id": "USGS MCS 2026, February 2026", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-magnesium-metal.pdf", "year": 2026, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "usgs-crit2025": { "title": "About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals (USGS, final list)", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals", "year": 2025, "kind": "web", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "pubchem-mg": { "title": "Magnesium, PubChem compound CID 5462224: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification", "id": "PubChem CID 5462224; aggregated from ECHA C&L notifications", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462224", "kind": "database", "license": "PubChem (NCBI) public data" }, "cavs-az61-corrosion": { "title": "Mississippi State University CAVS: AZ61 extruded magnesium corrosion (immersion and cyclic salt spray)", "url": "https://www.cavs.msstate.edu/icme/Magnesium/corrosion/AZ61Corrosion.php", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page, cited and not reproduced" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/magnesium-az61/" }