Magnesium WE43 (Elektron WE43B) WE43
Mg-Y-RE-Zr casting alloy, magnesium balance. Luxfer (product page): yttrium 3.7 to 4.3 %, rare earths 2.4 to 4.4 %, zirconium at least 0.4 %. Wikipedia alloy table: Mg 93.6 %, Y 4 %, Nd 2.25 %, Zr 0.15 %. Spark-emission analysis of the commercial WE43 in the 2022 Materials paper (Table 1, wt%): Y 4.0, Nd 2.3, Gd 0.6, Dy 0.3, Zr 0.6.
Also known as UNS M18430, ASTM B80, AMS 4427, ISO MC95320, Elektron WE43B, WE43
WE43, sold by Luxfer as Elektron WE43B, is a magnesium casting alloy with 3.7 to 4.3 % yttrium and 2.4 to 4.4 % rare earths.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- Mg not statedMagnesium
- Y not statedYttrium
- RE not statedRare earths (neodymium
- Zr not statedZirconium
Best for
Casting parts that must run at up to 250 °C long term or up to 300 °C in use, such as helicopter transmissions and aero-engine parts (Luxfer applications list)
Weakest at
Immersion corrosion (0.31 mg/cm2/day in one 14-day cell-culture test), with no density value and no flight data recorded in this profile
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Flammable solid in aggregate data
- If it fails High. Mass loss in body-fluid immersion
- Corrosion Severe. About 60 % of the initial mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days in simulated body fluid.
Quick facts: WE43
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | 125 to 195 MPa | 6 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 220 to 303 MPa | 4 sourced values across conditions |
| Thermal conductivity | 51 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Melting point | 540 to 640 °C | 1 sourced value |
| Specific heat | 966 J/(kg·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Electrical resistivity | 148 nΩ·m | 1 sourced value |
| Maximum service temperature | 250 to 300 °C | 2 sourced values across conditions |
What is the thermal conductivity of Magnesium WE43?
Magnesium WE43 has a thermal conductivity of 51 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the melting point of Magnesium WE43?
Magnesium WE43 has a melting point of 540 to 640 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the yield strength of Magnesium WE43?
Magnesium WE43 has a yield strength of 125 to 195 MPa. The range covers 6 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of Magnesium WE43?
Magnesium WE43 has a tensile strength of 220 to 303 MPa. The range covers 4 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of Magnesium WE43?
Magnesium WE43 has a maximum service temperature of 250 to 300 °C. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What are the other names and codes for Magnesium WE43?
Magnesium WE43 is also written as UNS M18430, ASTM B80, AMS 4427, ISO MC95320, Elektron WE43B, WE43. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is Magnesium WE43 used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Helicopter transmissions; Aeroengines and other power systems; Missiles.
Why it exists
Elektron WE43B is a magnesium casting alloy with 3.7 to 4.3 % yttrium and 2.4 to 4.4 % rare earths, rated by Luxfer for use up to 300 °C. Luxfer names helicopter transmissions, aeroengines, missiles and racing cars among its applications. The main source is a manufacturer datasheet, and the 2020 and 2022 studies add tensile and corrosion data for WE43 from laboratory tests, not from flight.
Where it's used
Helicopter transmissions
Luxfer's WE43B page lists helicopter transmissions as an application of the alloy. The page gives no part numbers or service data for that use.
Aeroengines and power systems
Luxfer lists aeroengines and other power systems among the applications of the alloy, alongside the minimum and typical strength values above.
Missiles and racing cars
Luxfer also lists missiles, and racing and high-performance cars, as applications of the alloy. No space application or flight result was found.
Recipe
Mg-Y-RE-Zr casting alloy, magnesium balance. Luxfer (product page): yttrium 3.7 to 4.3 %, rare earths 2.4 to 4.4 %, zirconium at least 0.4 %. Wikipedia alloy table: Mg 93.6 %, Y 4 %, Nd 2.25 %, Zr 0.15 %. Spark-emission analysis of the commercial WE43 in the 2022 Materials paper (Table 1, wt%): Y 4.0, Nd 2.3, Gd 0.6, Dy 0.3, Zr 0.6.
Elektron WE43B is a magnesium casting alloy. Luxfer lists it as a casting alloy with a heat treatment of solution treatment for 8 hours at 525 °C, quench, then ageing for 16 hours at 250 °C. The commercial WE43 in the 2022 study was supplied as cast and homogenised at 525 °C for 16 hours.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium Mg | not stated | The matrix metal and the bulk of the alloy. |
| Yttrium Y | not stated | The main alloying element. Luxfer and the measured composition both place it at about 4 %. |
| Rare earths (neodymium RE | not stated | Added with yttrium. Luxfer does not give a breakdown; the 2022 study gives the measured elements. |
| Zirconium Zr | not stated | The 2022 study compares this alloy with a Mg-3Y version that leaves out the rare earths and zirconium. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Serve as a casting in the applications Luxfer lists
helicopter transmissions, aeroengines, missiles and racing cars.
Strength
Meet a guaranteed minimum tensile strength of 220 MPa with 2 % elongation in the Luxfer casting specification.
Strength
Stay in service at 250 °C for the long term, and in use up to 300 °C, per Luxfer.
Gain strength from processing
in the 2020 bone-plate study, extrusion and ageing raised tensile strength from 260 MPa to 303 MPa.
Strength
Be welded by TIG with parent-composition filler rods, according to Luxfer.
How it compares
The closest comparison in the sources is the 2022 Mg-3Y study, which tests an alloy with no rare earths and no zirconium against WE43 under the same ECAP processing and immersion tests. The authors report 0.29 mg/cm2/day for the Mg-3Y alloy and 0.31 mg/cm2/day for WE43, and say the difference is within the statistical error. For tensile strength, the 2020 study's untreated WE43 row gives 260 MPa and its extruded, aged row gives 303 MPa. Luxfer's minimum and typical values are for the casting alloy and should not be compared directly with those research rows.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | WE43 | AZ31B | Mg | AZ61 | AJ62 | EV31A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||||||
| Melting range, Elektron WE43B casting alloy | 540 to 640 °C1 | 605 to 630 °C | 650 °C | 525 to 610 °C | no data | 545 to 640 °C |
| Thermal conductivity, Elektron WE43B | 51 W/(m·K)2 | 96 W/(m·K) | 156 W/m·K | 79.5 W/(m·K) | no data | 116 W/(m·K) |
| Specific heat, Elektron WE43B | 966 J/(kg·K)3 | 1001 J/(kg·K) | no data | 1050 J/(kg·K) | no data | 1086 J/(kg·K) |
| Physical and electrical | ||||||
| Electrical resistivity, Elektron WE43B | 148 nΩ·m4 | no data | 45.4 nΩ·m | 12.5 µOhm·cm | no data | 94.6 nΩm |
| Other measurements | ||||||
| Poisson's ratio, Elektron WE43B | 0.27 -5 | no data | 0.29 - | no data | no data | no data |
| Fracture toughness KIC, typical ambient temperature | 15.9 MPa m1/26 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Minimum 0.2% proof stress, casting specification | > 172 MPa7 | no data | no data | > 151.7 MPa | 123.5 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Minimum tensile strength, casting specification | > 220 MPa8 | 290 MPa | 140 to 160 MPa | 310 MPa | 225.3 MPa | 248 MPa |
| Minimum elongation, casting specification | > 2 %9 | 15 % | no data | 16 % | 7.43 % | no data |
| Typical 0.2% proof stress, ambient temperature | 185 MPa10 | no data | no data | > 151.7 MPa | 123.5 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Typical tensile strength, ambient temperature | 265 MPa11 | 290 MPa | 140 to 160 MPa | 310 MPa | 225.3 MPa | 248 MPa |
| Typical elongation, ambient temperature | 7 %12 | 15 % | no data | 16 % | 7.43 % | no data |
| Compressive 0.2% proof stress, typical ambient temperature | 187 MPa13 | no data | no data | > 151.7 MPa | 123.5 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Long-term service limit | 250 °C14 | no data | no data | no data | no data | 200 °C |
| Stated use temperature | 300 °C15 | no data | no data | no data | no data | 200 °C |
| Salt-spray corrosion rate, ASTM B117 | 0.1 to 0.2 mg/cm²/day16 | 0.27 mm/year | no data | no data | no data | 1.14 mg/cm²/day |
| Tensile strength, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43) | 260 MPa17 | 290 MPa | 140 to 160 MPa | 310 MPa | 225.3 MPa | 248 MPa |
| Tensile yield strength, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43) | 160 MPa18 | no data | no data | > 151.7 MPa | 123.5 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Elongation, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43) | 6 %19 | 15 % | no data | 16 % | 7.43 % | no data |
| Tensile strength, extruded WE43 (aged) | 303 MPa20 | 290 MPa | 140 to 160 MPa | 310 MPa | 225.3 MPa | 248 MPa |
| Tensile yield strength, extruded WE43 (aged) | 195 MPa21 | no data | no data | > 151.7 MPa | 123.5 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Compressive yield strength, as-cast WE43 (WE43-0P) | 125 MPa22 | no data | no data | > 151.7 MPa | 123.5 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Immersion corrosion rate, ECAP-processed WE43 (WE43-8P) | 0.31 mg/cm²/day23 | 0.27 mm/year | no data | no data | no data | 1.14 mg/cm²/day |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Heat tolerance: Luxfer states long-term stability up to 250 °C and a stated use temperature up to 300 °C.
- Welded casting parts in the applications Luxfer lists, such as helicopter transmissions and aeroengines.
Watch out for
- Immersion corrosion: 0.31 mg/cm2/day in one 14-day cell-culture test of ECAP-processed WE43.
- Composition varies between sources: zirconium is 0.15 % in one table and at least 0.4 % in the manufacturer's data.
- No density value is recorded here, because the manufacturer prints specific gravity 1.84 with no unit.
- Supply is concentrated: China produced 950 thousand t of a 1,100 thousand t world total in 2025.
Elektron WE43B is a well-documented rare-earth magnesium casting with a manufacturer datasheet and a named list of aerospace and motorsport uses. Its body-fluid corrosion is high in one study, its density is not recorded, and no space flight data were found.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| UNS | M18430 |
| ASTM | B80 (casting specification) |
| AMS | 4427 |
| ISO | MC95320 |
| Trade name | Elektron WE43B, WE43 |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melting range, Elektron WE43B casting alloy | Range printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyunit in source 540–640˚C as printed | — |
| 2 | Thermal conductivity, Elektron WE43B | Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloytemperature not stated on the pageunit in source 51 Wm-1K-1 | — |
| 3 | Specific heat, Elektron WE43B | Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloytemperature not stated on the pageunit in source 966 Jkg-1K-1 | — |
| 4 | Electrical resistivity, Elektron WE43B | Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloytemperature not stated on the pageunit in source 148 nΩm | — |
| 5 | Poisson's ratio, Elektron WE43B | Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloytemperature not stated on the page | — |
| 6 | Fracture toughness KIC, typical ambient temperature | Value printed in the typical ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page (custom property name, not in the canonical list) | form casting alloyvalue type typical, ambient temperature | — |
| 7 | Minimum 0.2% proof stress, casting specification | Minimum value printed in the design data section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type guaranteed minimum, minimum tensile specificationtest tensile 0.2% proof stressheat treatment as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C | — |
| 8 | Minimum tensile strength, casting specification | Minimum value printed in the design data section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type guaranteed minimum, minimum tensile specificationtest tensileheat treatment as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C | — |
| 9 | Minimum elongation, casting specification | Minimum value printed in the design data section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type guaranteed minimum, minimum tensile specificationtest tensileheat treatment as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C | — |
| 10 | Typical 0.2% proof stress, ambient temperature | Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type typical, ambient temperaturetest tensile 0.2% proof stressheat treatment as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C | — |
| 11 | Typical tensile strength, ambient temperature | Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type typical, ambient temperaturetest tensileheat treatment as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C | — |
| 12 | Typical elongation, ambient temperature | Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type typical, ambient temperaturetest tensileheat treatment as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C | — |
| 13 | Compressive 0.2% proof stress, typical ambient temperature | Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyvalue type typical, ambient temperaturetest compression 0.2% proof stress | — |
| 14 | Long-term service limit | Value printed in the product information section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyexposure long-termbasis stable for long term exposure up to 250˚C, as printed | — |
| 15 | Stated use temperature | Value printed in the product information section of the manufacturer's product page | form casting alloyexposure stated use temperature, distinct from the long-term figurebasis up to 300˚C, as printed | — |
| 16 | Salt-spray corrosion rate, ASTM B117 | Range printed in the other properties section of the manufacturer's product page (the same row also prints 10 mpy; custom property name, not in the canonical list) | form casting alloytest ASTM B117 salt sprayexposure time not stated on the page | — |
| 17 | Tensile strength, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43) | Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates | form untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43; the text refers to cast WE43 plate)test tensiletemper not stated | — |
| 18 | Tensile yield strength, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43) | Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates | form untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43; the text refers to cast WE43 plate)test tensiletemper not stated | — |
| 19 | Elongation, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43) | Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates | form untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43; the text refers to cast WE43 plate)test tensiletemper not stated | — |
| 20 | Tensile strength, extruded WE43 (aged) | Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates | form extruded WE43 rod, quenched and aged at 210 °C for 16 htest tensile | — |
| 21 | Tensile yield strength, extruded WE43 (aged) | Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates | form extruded WE43 rod, quenched and aged at 210 °C for 16 htest tensile | — |
| 22 | Compressive yield strength, as-cast WE43 (WE43-0P) | Mean value printed in Table 3 of a 2022 Materials study of Mg-3Y and WE43 (the printed standard deviation is 5 MPa) | form as-cast WE43, homogenised at 525 °C for 16 h (paper's WE43-0P)test compression deformation testnote in source 125 ± 5 printed | — |
| 23 | Immersion corrosion rate, ECAP-processed WE43 (WE43-8P) | Value printed in the text of Section 3.2 of a 2022 Materials study (custom property name, not in the canonical list) | form WE43 processed by ECAP (8 passes, labelled 8P)medium MEM + 10% FBSexposure 14 days of immersion | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Salt spray (ASTM B117), casting alloy | low | Salt-spray corrosion of Elektron WE43B is printed as 0.1 to 0.2 mg/cm2/day on the manufacturer's test.1 |
| Static immersion in simulated body fluid, 60 days, extruded WE43 disks | severe | About 60 % of the initial mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days in simulated body fluid.2 |
| Cell culture medium MEM and MEM + 10% FBS, 14 days, ECAP-processed WE43 | moderate | ECAP-processed WE43 corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in cell culture medium, against 0.29 mg/cm2/day for Mg-3Y.3 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt spray (ASTM B117), casting alloy | Luxfer prints a corrosion rate of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/cm2/day in ASTM B117 salt spray and gives the same rate as 10 mpy. The page gives no exposure time and no surface condition, so the figure cannot be compared directly with immersion data. | test ASTM B117 salt sprayform casting alloyexposure time not stated |
| 2 | Static immersion in simulated body fluid, 60 days, extruded WE43 disks | Byun et al. print 'approximately 60% (60.07 ± 15.40) of the initial mass remained at 60 days' for WE43 in a static immersion test at 37.0 °C and pH 7.35, with the bath refilled with deionized water each week. The mass was measured once a week, and the conversion layer was not removed. | medium simulated body fluid, 30 ml per disktemperature 37.0 °CpH 7.35exposure 60 daysspecimen extruded WE43 disks |
| 3 | Cell culture medium MEM and MEM + 10% FBS, 14 days, ECAP-processed WE43 | The 2022 study reports 0.29 mg/cm2/day for W3-8P (Mg-3Y) and 0.31 mg/cm2/day for WE43-8P in MEM + 10% FBS, and says that within the statistical error there is no difference between the two. It states an upper limit of 0.29 mg/cm2/day in simulated body fluid for temporary bone fixation implants. | medium MEM and MEM + 10% FBSexposure 14 daysspecimen ECAP-processed WE43 (8P) and Mg-3Y (W3-8P) |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The PubChem summary for magnesium as a substance lists flammable-solid and water-reactive statements, but it does not describe the cast alloy WE43.
- The metal
- PubChem's ECHA summary for magnesium gives H228 as the most-reported statement, 'Flammable solid', from 2205 reports. Another 18.4% of reports say the substance does not meet GHS criteria.
- Dust and swarf
- The Luxfer page does not describe dust or swarf hazards. The safety data sheet for the powder or swarf was not read, so this profile has no source for those forms.
If the alloy corrodes
Corrosion results come from laboratory immersion tests, not from field service.
- Body fluid
- In simulated body fluid, about 60 % of the mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days (Byun et al. 2020).
- Cell culture medium
- ECAP-processed WE43 corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in MEM + 10% FBS over 14 days, against 0.29 mg/cm2/day for Mg-3Y in the same test.
Heat and handling
- Long-term limit
- Luxfer states stable long-term exposure up to 250 °C and a stated use temperature up to 300 °C. Its creep data are shown only as figures.
- Welding
- Luxfer says the alloy is fully weldable by TIG with parent-composition filler rods.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Use above the long-term limitmoderate severity | Exposure above 250 °C for long periodsLuxfer states stable long-term exposure only up to 250 °C and a stated use temperature up to 300 °C. Creep, tensile and fatigue data at elevated temperature appear on the page only as figures, so no creep value is recorded here. |
| Mass loss in body-fluid immersionhigh severity | Immersion in simulated body fluid or cell culture mediumAbout 60 % of the initial mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days in simulated body fluid, and the ECAP-processed alloy corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in MEM + 10% FBS over 14 days. |
Handling and storage
- Luxfer says the alloy is fine grained and pressure tight, and is fully weldable by TIG using parent-composition filler rods.
- PubChem prints H260 for magnesium as a substance: 'In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously'. The statement is not specific to the solid alloy.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Magnesium metal (primary smelter production)
- Top producers (2025)
- China 86.4%, Russia 5.5%
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed, EU: listed
- 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 chapter notes that magnesium's lighter weight is an advantage over both in most applications, but its high cost is a disadvantage.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: magnesium-we43
spore_version: 0.2
family: magnesium-alloys
name: Magnesium WE43 (Elektron WE43B)
abbreviation: WE43
role: rare-earth magnesium casting alloy
category: metals
type: magnesium
summary: |
WE43, sold by Luxfer as Elektron WE43B, is a magnesium casting alloy with 3.7 to 4.3 % yttrium and 2.4 to 4.4 % rare earths. Luxfer rates it for use up to 300 °C and stable for long-term exposure up to 250 °C, with a guaranteed minimum tensile strength of 220 MPa. In a 2022 study, cast WE43 had a compressive yield strength of 125 MPa, and ECAP-processed WE43 corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in cell culture medium over 14 days.
best_for: Casting parts that must run at up to 250 °C long term or up to 300 °C in use, such as helicopter transmissions and aero-engine parts (Luxfer applications list)
weakest_at: Immersion corrosion (0.31 mg/cm2/day in one 14-day cell-culture test), with no density value and no flight data recorded in this profile
identity:
formula: 'Mg-Y-RE-Zr casting alloy, magnesium balance. Luxfer (product page): yttrium 3.7 to 4.3 %, rare earths 2.4 to 4.4 %, zirconium at least 0.4 %. Wikipedia alloy table: Mg 93.6 %, Y 4 %, Nd 2.25 %, Zr 0.15 %. Spark-emission analysis of the commercial WE43 in the 2022 Materials paper (Table 1, wt%): Y 4.0, Nd 2.3, Gd 0.6, Dy 0.3, Zr 0.6.'
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Chemical composition section of the Elektron WE43B product page
designations:
- system: UNS
code: M18430
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Specifications list, row UNS No.
- system: ASTM
code: B80
note: casting specification
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Specifications list, row ASTM
- system: AMS
code: '4427'
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Specifications list, row AMS
- system: ISO
code: MC95320
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Specifications list, ISO 16220 row
- system: Trade name
code: Elektron WE43B
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Page title
- system: Trade name
code: WE43
source: wiki-mg-alloy
where: Alloy table, row WE43
tags:
applications:
- mechanisms
- propulsion-and-tanks
- structures
properties:
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting range, Elektron WE43B casting alloy
value: 540
value_high: 640
bound: range
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
unit_in_source: 540–640˚C as printed
method: Range printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Physical properties section, row Melting range
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity, Elektron WE43B
value: 51
unit: W/(m·K)
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
temperature: not stated on the page
unit_in_source: 51 Wm-1K-1
method: Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Physical properties section, row Thermal conductivity
- benchmark: specific_heat
label: Specific heat, Elektron WE43B
value: 966
unit: J/(kg·K)
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
temperature: not stated on the page
unit_in_source: 966 Jkg-1K-1
method: Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Physical properties section, row Specific heat
- benchmark: electrical_resistivity
label: Electrical resistivity, Elektron WE43B
value: 148
unit: nΩ·m
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
temperature: not stated on the page
unit_in_source: 148 nΩm
method: Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Physical properties section, row Electrical resistivity
- benchmark: poissons_ratio
label: Poisson's ratio, Elektron WE43B
value: 0.27
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed in the physical properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Physical properties section, row Poisson's ratio
- benchmark: fracture_toughness_kic
label: Fracture toughness KIC, typical ambient temperature
value: 15.9
unit: MPa m1/2
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: typical, ambient temperature
method: Value printed in the typical ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page (custom property name, not in the canonical list)
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Typical ambient temperature properties, row Fracture toughness KIC
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Minimum 0.2% proof stress, casting specification
value: 172
bound: lower
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: guaranteed minimum, minimum tensile specification
test: tensile 0.2% proof stress
heat_treatment: 'as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C'
method: Minimum value printed in the design data section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Design data, minimum tensile specification, 0.2% proof stress
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Minimum tensile strength, casting specification
value: 220
bound: lower
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: guaranteed minimum, minimum tensile specification
test: tensile
heat_treatment: 'as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C'
method: Minimum value printed in the design data section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Design data, minimum tensile specification, tensile strength
- benchmark: elongation
label: Minimum elongation, casting specification
value: 2
bound: lower
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: guaranteed minimum, minimum tensile specification
test: tensile
heat_treatment: 'as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C'
method: Minimum value printed in the design data section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Design data, minimum tensile specification, elongation
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Typical 0.2% proof stress, ambient temperature
value: 185
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: typical, ambient temperature
test: tensile 0.2% proof stress
heat_treatment: 'as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C'
method: Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Typical ambient temperature properties, tensile 0.2% proof stress
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Typical tensile strength, ambient temperature
value: 265
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: typical, ambient temperature
test: tensile
heat_treatment: 'as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C'
method: Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Typical ambient temperature properties, tensile strength
- benchmark: elongation
label: Typical elongation, ambient temperature
value: 7
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: typical, ambient temperature
test: tensile
heat_treatment: 'as printed on the same page: solution treat 8 h at 525 °C, quench, age 16 h at 250 °C'
method: Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Typical ambient temperature properties, elongation
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Compressive 0.2% proof stress, typical ambient temperature
value: 187
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
value_type: typical, ambient temperature
test: compression 0.2% proof stress
method: Typical value printed in the ambient temperature properties section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Typical ambient temperature properties, compressive 0.2% proof stress
- benchmark: max_service_temp
label: Long-term service limit
value: 250
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
exposure: long-term
basis: stable for long term exposure up to 250˚C, as printed
method: Value printed in the product information section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Product information section, long-term exposure statement
- benchmark: max_service_temp
label: Stated use temperature
value: 300
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
exposure: stated use temperature, distinct from the long-term figure
basis: up to 300˚C, as printed
method: Value printed in the product information section of the manufacturer's product page
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Product information section, stated use temperature
- benchmark: corrosion_rate
label: Salt-spray corrosion rate, ASTM B117
value: 0.1
value_high: 0.2
bound: range
unit: mg/cm2/day
scope: material
conditions:
form: casting alloy
test: ASTM B117 salt spray
exposure_time: not stated on the page
method: Range printed in the other properties section of the manufacturer's product page (the same row also prints 10 mpy; custom property name, not in the canonical list)
status: ground
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Other properties section, corrosion rate
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43)
value: 260
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43; the text refers to cast WE43 plate)
test: tensile
temper: not stated
method: Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates
status: ground
source: byun2020
where: Table 1, row WE43, column Tensile strength (MPa)
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Tensile yield strength, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43)
value: 160
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43; the text refers to cast WE43 plate)
test: tensile
temper: not stated
method: Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates
status: ground
source: byun2020
where: Table 1, row WE43, column Tensile yield strength (MPa)
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43)
value: 6
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
form: untreated WE43 (Table 1 row WE43; the text refers to cast WE43 plate)
test: tensile
temper: not stated
method: Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates
status: ground
source: byun2020
where: Table 1, row WE43, column Elongation (%)
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, extruded WE43 (aged)
value: 303
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: extruded WE43 rod, quenched and aged at 210 °C for 16 h
test: tensile
method: Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates
status: ground
source: byun2020
where: Table 1, row Extruded WE43, column Tensile strength (MPa)
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Tensile yield strength, extruded WE43 (aged)
value: 195
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: extruded WE43 rod, quenched and aged at 210 °C for 16 h
test: tensile
method: Value printed in Table 1 of an open-access study that compares extruded and cast WE43 for bone plates
status: ground
source: byun2020
where: Table 1, row Extruded WE43, column Tensile yield strength (MPa)
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Compressive yield strength, as-cast WE43 (WE43-0P)
value: 125
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: as-cast WE43, homogenised at 525 °C for 16 h (paper's WE43-0P)
test: compression deformation test
note_in_source: 125 ± 5 printed
method: Mean value printed in Table 3 of a 2022 Materials study of Mg-3Y and WE43 (the printed standard deviation is 5 MPa)
status: ground
source: mg3y2022
where: Table 3, row WE43-0P, column CYS/MPa
- benchmark: corrosion_rate
label: Immersion corrosion rate, ECAP-processed WE43 (WE43-8P)
value: 0.31
unit: mg/cm2/day
scope: material
conditions:
form: WE43 processed by ECAP (8 passes, labelled 8P)
medium: MEM + 10% FBS
exposure: 14 days of immersion
method: Value printed in the text of Section 3.2 of a 2022 Materials study (custom property name, not in the canonical list)
status: ground
source: mg3y2022
where: Section 3.2 (Corrosion in Biological Media), text on WE43-8P
corrosion:
- environment: Salt spray (ASTM B117), casting alloy
headline: Salt-spray corrosion of Elektron WE43B is printed as 0.1 to 0.2 mg/cm2/day on the manufacturer's test.
effect: Luxfer prints a corrosion rate of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/cm2/day in ASTM B117 salt spray and gives the same rate as 10 mpy. The page gives no exposure time and no surface condition, so the figure cannot be compared directly with immersion data.
rating: low
conditions:
test: ASTM B117 salt spray
form: casting alloy
exposure_time: not stated
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Other properties section, corrosion rate
- environment: Static immersion in simulated body fluid, 60 days, extruded WE43 disks
headline: About 60 % of the initial mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days in simulated body fluid.
effect: Byun et al. print 'approximately 60% (60.07 ± 15.40) of the initial mass remained at 60 days' for WE43 in a static immersion test at 37.0 °C and pH 7.35, with the bath refilled with deionized water each week. The mass was measured once a week, and the conversion layer was not removed.
rating: severe
conditions:
medium: simulated body fluid, 30 ml per disk
temperature: 37.0 °C
pH: '7.35'
exposure: 60 days
specimen: extruded WE43 disks
source: byun2020
where: Section 2.2 (method) and Section 3.1 (results)
- environment: Cell culture medium MEM and MEM + 10% FBS, 14 days, ECAP-processed WE43
headline: ECAP-processed WE43 corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in cell culture medium, against 0.29 mg/cm2/day for Mg-3Y.
effect: The 2022 study reports 0.29 mg/cm2/day for W3-8P (Mg-3Y) and 0.31 mg/cm2/day for WE43-8P in MEM + 10% FBS, and says that within the statistical error there is no difference between the two. It states an upper limit of 0.29 mg/cm2/day in simulated body fluid for temporary bone fixation implants.
rating: moderate
conditions:
medium: MEM and MEM + 10% FBS
exposure: 14 days
specimen: ECAP-processed WE43 (8P) and Mg-3Y (W3-8P)
source: mg3y2022
where: Figure 3 caption and Section 3.2 text
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'PubChem''s ECHA C&L summary for magnesium (CID 5462224) reads ''Aggregated GHS information provided per 2205 reports by companies from 27 notifications''. The most-reported statement is ''H228 (44.9%): Flammable solid''. Others printed include ''H261 (44.8%): In contact with water releases flammable gas'', ''H260 (36.7%): In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously'', ''H250 (36.5%): Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air'' and ''H252 (18%): Self-heating in large quantities; may catch fire''.'
ghs:
- H228
- H261
- H260
- H250
- H252
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, ECHA C&L notifications summary
- text: The same PubChem summary prints 'This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 18.4% (405 of 2205) of reports.' The summary is for magnesium as a substance and does not describe the cast alloy WE43; no WE43-specific safety data sheet was found.
ghs: []
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, Note
- text: 'Some PubChem notifications print ''H315: Causes skin irritation'', ''H319: Causes serious eye irritation'' and ''H335: May cause respiratory irritation''.'
ghs:
- H315
- H319
- H335
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, GHS Hazard Statements
failure_risks:
- mode: Use above the long-term limit
trigger: Exposure above 250 °C for long periods
consequence: Luxfer states stable long-term exposure only up to 250 °C and a stated use temperature up to 300 °C. Creep, tensile and fatigue data at elevated temperature appear on the page only as figures, so no creep value is recorded here.
severity: moderate
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Product information and Elevated temperature sections
- mode: Mass loss in body-fluid immersion
trigger: Immersion in simulated body fluid or cell culture medium
consequence: About 60 % of the initial mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days in simulated body fluid, and the ECAP-processed alloy corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in MEM + 10% FBS over 14 days.
severity: high
source: byun2020
where: Section 3.1 and Figure 3 caption of the 2022 study
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Luxfer says the alloy is fine grained and pressure tight, and is fully weldable by TIG using parent-composition filler rods.
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Product information section
- text: 'PubChem prints H260 for magnesium as a substance: ''In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously''. The statement is not specific to the solid alloy.'
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, H260 entry
mitigations: []
uses:
- application: mechanisms
device: Helicopter transmissions
example: Luxfer's WE43B page lists helicopter transmissions among the applications of the alloy.
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Applications section
- application: propulsion-and-tanks
device: Aeroengines and other power systems
example: Luxfer's WE43B page lists aeroengines and other power systems among the applications of the alloy.
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Applications section
- application: structures
device: Missiles
example: Luxfer's WE43B page lists missiles among the applications of the alloy.
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Applications section
- application: structures
device: Racing and high-performance cars
example: Luxfer's WE43B page lists racing and high-performance cars among the applications of the alloy. The page does not say which parts are used.
source: luxfer-we43b
where: Applications section
supply:
- subject: Magnesium metal (primary smelter production)
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 86.4
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 5.5
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 final List of Critical Minerals (magnesium listed as 'Magnesium, used in metal alloys used by aerospace, automotive and electronics industries')
listed: true
- list: EU critical raw materials list (European Commission page, entry 'Magnesium')
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 chapter notes that magnesium''s lighter weight is an advantage over both in most applications, but its high cost is a disadvantage.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-mg
where: World Primary Production and Reserves table, smelter production 2025 (world total 1,100 thousand t, rounded; China 950 and Russia 60 thousand t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom); Recycling; Substitutes
documents:
- title: Elektron WE43B, Luxfer MEL Technologies product page
type: datasheet
url: https://www.luxfermeltechnologies.com/elektron-we43b/
- title: Biodegradable magnesium alloy (WE43) in bone-fixation plate and screw, J Biomed Mater Res B 2020
type: paper
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7383574/
year: 2020
- title: Concurrence of High Corrosion Resistance and Strength with Excellent Ductility in Ultrafine-Grained Mg-3Y Alloy, Materials 2022
type: paper
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9657410/
year: 2022
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Magnesium Metal'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-magnesium-metal.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem compound record: Magnesium (CID 5462224), GHS aggregated classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Magnesium
year: 2026
gaps:
- 'Density not recorded: the Luxfer page prints ''Specific gravity 1.84'' with no unit, so the value was left out under the no-inferred-unit rule. No WE43 density in g/cm3 was read in a fetched source (a third-party comparison page could not be opened).'
- 'Coefficient of thermal expansion not recorded: the Luxfer page prints it in exponent form (''26.7 x10-6K-1''). The modulus of elasticity is printed the same way (''45 x 103 MPa''). Both left out.'
- Vickers hardness (printed as 85 to 105, with no unit or load) left out.
- Compressive ultimate strength (323 MPa), shear ultimate stress (160 MPa) and pattern shrinkage (1.5 %) from the Luxfer page are not entered, to keep the property names canonical.
- Fracture toughness, corrosion rate and immersion corrosion rate use custom names (fracture_toughness_kic, corrosion_rate) because no canonical name exists in property-canon.yaml.
- 'UNS: the queue entry gives UNS M18432 for WE43B. The Luxfer page and the ASM Alloy Digest keywords print UNS M18430, so M18430 is recorded. M18432 appeared only in a third-party search result that could not be opened (403), so it is not recorded.'
- 'Composition conflicts are recorded side by side: zirconium is at least 0.4 % (Luxfer), 0.15 % (Wikipedia table) and 0.6 % (measured in the 2022 Materials study). The Wikipedia composition table is used for composition only.'
- No flight, vacuum, radiation or space-environment result for WE43 found. The outgassing, atomic-oxygen and thermal-cycling data were not found in any source read.
- Elevated-temperature creep, tensile and fatigue data on the Luxfer page appear only as figures, so no numbers are recorded for them.
- The Byun et al. 2020 Table 1 'WE43' row is the untreated material. The paper's text calls it cast WE43 plate, and the processing is not otherwise stated, so the condition is recorded as untreated.
- The hazard data rest on the PubChem summary for magnesium as a substance (the page was read through its REST record because the web page showed a reCAPTCHA). No WE43 safety data sheet was found.
- Only one open study gives a compressive yield value for as-cast WE43 and one gives an immersion rate for ECAP-processed WE43. The tensile values for cast WE43 come from one 2020 bone-plate study, so the process condition is not a manufacturer's specification.
- Biomedical research uses of WE43 (bone plates and screws in animal studies) are not entered as uses, because the application list has no medical category.
- Supply shares are calculated by Space Mushroom against the USGS rounded world total of 1,100 thousand t, so the shares are approximate.
sources:
luxfer-we43b:
title: Elektron WE43B, Luxfer MEL Technologies product page (physical, design and ambient properties, specifications and applications)
url: https://www.luxfermeltechnologies.com/elektron-we43b/
kind: datasheet
license: Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)
asm-alloy-digest:
title: 'ASM Alloy Digest: ELEKTRON WE43 Heat-Treatable Magnesium Casting (Mg-76), Alloy Digest vol 58 issue 3'
id: ASM Alloy Digest Mg-76; keywords print UNS M18430
url: https://dl.asminternational.org/alloy-digest/article/58/3/Mg-76/7162/ELEKTRON-WE43Heat-Treatable-Magnesium-Casting
kind: handbook
license: Paywalled record (cited, not reproduced); only the record page was read
byun2020:
title: Biodegradable magnesium alloy (WE43) in bone-fixation plate and screw (Byun, Lim, Cheon, Lee, Kim), J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 108(6):2505-2512
id: doi:10.1002/jbm.b.34582; PMC7383574
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7383574/
year: 2020
kind: paper
license: Open access via PMC (cited, not reproduced)
mg3y2022:
title: Concurrence of High Corrosion Resistance and Strength with Excellent Ductility in Ultrafine-Grained Mg-3Y Alloy, Materials (Basel) 15(21):7571
id: doi:10.3390/ma15217571; PMC9657410
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9657410/
year: 2022
kind: paper
license: Open access via PMC (cited, not reproduced)
wiki-mg-alloy:
title: Magnesium alloy (Wikipedia), alloy table entry for WE43
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_alloy
year: 2026
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
pubchem-mg:
title: 'PubChem compound record: Magnesium (CID 5462224), GHS classification and ECHA C&L notifications summary (REST view)'
id: CID 5462224; CAS 7439-95-4
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/5462224/JSON
year: 2026
kind: database
license: PubChem (NCBI), public domain; ECHA data attributed in the record
usgs-mcs2026-mg:
title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Magnesium Metal (U.S. Geological Survey, February 2026)
id: USGS MCS 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)
ec-crm:
title: Critical raw materials (European Commission, list under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252)
url: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en
year: 2024
kind: web
license: European Commission web page (cited, not reproduced)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-02'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 23
unreachable: 0
caveats: 4
note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-11-02 from the pages and PDFs named in each entry. Density, CTE and modulus left out because the page prints no unit or prints exponent form. Custom property names used for fracture toughness and corrosion rates.
story:
recipe:
line: Elektron WE43B is a magnesium casting alloy. Luxfer lists it as a casting alloy with a heat treatment of solution treatment for 8 hours at 525 °C, quench, then ageing for 16 hours at 250 °C. The commercial WE43 in the 2022 study was supplied as cast and homogenised at 525 °C for 16 hours.
parts:
- name: Magnesium
symbol: Mg
share: balance (Luxfer); 93.6 % (Wikipedia table)
role: The matrix metal and the bulk of the alloy.
- name: Yttrium
symbol: 'Y'
share: 3.7 to 4.3 % (Luxfer); 4.0 wt% measured in the 2022 study
role: The main alloying element. Luxfer and the measured composition both place it at about 4 %.
- name: Rare earths (neodymium
gadolinium: null
dysprosium): null
symbol: RE
share: 2.4 to 4.4 % (Luxfer); Nd 2.3, Gd 0.6 and Dy 0.3 wt% measured in the 2022 study
role: Added with yttrium. Luxfer does not give a breakdown; the 2022 study gives the measured elements.
- name: Zirconium
symbol: Zr
share: at least 0.4 % (Luxfer); 0.15 % (Wikipedia table); 0.6 % measured in the 2022 study
role: The 2022 study compares this alloy with a Mg-3Y version that leaves out the rare earths and zirconium.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: Flammable solid in aggregate data
lead: The PubChem summary for magnesium as a substance lists flammable-solid and water-reactive statements, but it does not describe the cast alloy WE43.
points:
- label: The metal
line: PubChem's ECHA summary for magnesium gives H228 as the most-reported statement, 'Flammable solid', from 2205 reports. Another 18.4% of reports say the substance does not meet GHS criteria.
- label: Dust and swarf
line: The Luxfer page does not describe dust or swarf hazards. The safety data sheet for the powder or swarf was not read, so this profile has no source for those forms.
- title: If the alloy corrodes
verdict: Immersion corrosion above the paper's limit
lead: Corrosion results come from laboratory immersion tests, not from field service.
points:
- label: Body fluid
line: In simulated body fluid, about 60 % of the mass of extruded WE43 remained after 60 days (Byun et al. 2020).
- label: Cell culture medium
line: ECAP-processed WE43 corroded at 0.31 mg/cm2/day in MEM + 10% FBS over 14 days, against 0.29 mg/cm2/day for Mg-3Y in the same test.
- title: Heat and handling
points:
- label: Long-term limit
line: Luxfer states stable long-term exposure up to 250 °C and a stated use temperature up to 300 °C. Its creep data are shown only as figures.
- label: Welding
line: Luxfer says the alloy is fully weldable by TIG with parent-composition filler rods.
why: Elektron WE43B is a magnesium casting alloy with 3.7 to 4.3 % yttrium and 2.4 to 4.4 % rare earths, rated by Luxfer for use up to 300 °C. Luxfer names helicopter transmissions, aeroengines, missiles and racing cars among its applications. The main source is a manufacturer datasheet, and the 2020 and 2022 studies add tensile and corrosion data for WE43 from laboratory tests, not from flight.
uses:
- where: Helicopter transmissions
line: Luxfer's WE43B page lists helicopter transmissions as an application of the alloy. The page gives no part numbers or service data for that use.
- where: Aeroengines and power systems
line: Luxfer lists aeroengines and other power systems among the applications of the alloy, alongside the minimum and typical strength values above.
- where: Missiles and racing cars
line: Luxfer also lists missiles, and racing and high-performance cars, as applications of the alloy. No space application or flight result was found.
can_do:
- label: Serve as a casting in the applications Luxfer lists
line: helicopter transmissions, aeroengines, missiles and racing cars.
- label: Strength
line: Meet a guaranteed minimum tensile strength of 220 MPa with 2 % elongation in the Luxfer casting specification.
- label: Strength
line: Stay in service at 250 °C for the long term, and in use up to 300 °C, per Luxfer.
- label: Gain strength from processing
line: in the 2020 bone-plate study, extrusion and ageing raised tensile strength from 260 MPa to 303 MPa.
- label: Strength
line: Be welded by TIG with parent-composition filler rods, according to Luxfer.
compare: The closest comparison in the sources is the 2022 Mg-3Y study, which tests an alloy with no rare earths and no zirconium against WE43 under the same ECAP processing and immersion tests. The authors report 0.29 mg/cm2/day for the Mg-3Y alloy and 0.31 mg/cm2/day for WE43, and say the difference is within the statistical error. For tensile strength, the 2020 study's untreated WE43 row gives 260 MPa and its extruded, aged row gives 303 MPa. Luxfer's minimum and typical values are for the casting alloy and should not be compared directly with those research rows.
compare_rows:
- label: Tensile strength
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
- label: Compressive yield strength
benchmark: yield_strength
- label: Immersion corrosion rate
benchmark: corrosion_rate
handling:
- Specify the form and heat treatment, because the Luxfer strength values are for the casting alloy solution-treated and aged as printed.
- Keep the alloy away from water and ignition sources, and treat magnesium as a flammable solid until a WE43-specific safety data sheet is read.
- Weld by TIG with parent-composition filler rods.
good_for:
- 'Heat tolerance: Luxfer states long-term stability up to 250 °C and a stated use temperature up to 300 °C.'
- Welded casting parts in the applications Luxfer lists, such as helicopter transmissions and aeroengines.
watch_out:
- 'Immersion corrosion: 0.31 mg/cm2/day in one 14-day cell-culture test of ECAP-processed WE43.'
- 'Composition varies between sources: zirconium is 0.15 % in one table and at least 0.4 % in the manufacturer''s data.'
- No density value is recorded here, because the manufacturer prints specific gravity 1.84 with no unit.
- 'Supply is concentrated: China produced 950 thousand t of a 1,100 thousand t world total in 2025.'
verdict: Elektron WE43B is a well-documented rare-earth magnesium casting with a manufacturer datasheet and a named list of aerospace and motorsport uses. Its body-fluid corrosion is high in one study, its density is not recorded, and no space flight data were found.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
Updated