Wrought magnesium alloy

Abstract

A magnesium-based alloy consisting of, by weight: 0.5 to 1.5% manganese, 0.05 to 0.5% rare earth of which more than 70% is lanthanum, 0 to 1.5% zinc and 0 to 0.1% strontium, the balance being magnesium except for incidental impurities.

1 . A magnesium-based alloy consisting of, by weight:
 0.5 to 1.5% manganese,   0.05 to 0.5% rare earth of which more than 70% is lanthanum,   0 to 1.5% zinc and   0 to 0.1% strontium,   
       the balance being magnesium except for incidental impurities. 
     
     
         2 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of 0.1-0.3% rare earth. 
     
     
         32 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of greater than 0.25% rare earth. 
     
     
         33 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lanthanum content of the alloy is at least 0.09%. 
     
     
         34 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lanthanum content of the alloy is 0.1-0.3%. 
     
     
         35 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lanthanum content of the alloy is greater than 0.25%. 
     
     
         36 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the manganese content is greater than 0.6% and less than 1.3%. 
     
     
         37 . A magnesium based alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the zinc content is 0.2 to 1.3%. 
     
     
         38 . A wrought magnesium alloy article comprising an amount of an alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , which has been worked into a shape or condition. 
     
     
         39 . A method of manufacturing a wrought magnesium alloy article, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) heating a casting of a magnesium-based alloy at a first temperature for a first period of time,   (b) cooling the casting, and   (c) working the casting into a shape or condition.   
     
     
         40 . A method of manufacturing a wrought magnesium alloy article, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) heating a worked casting of a magnesium-based alloy at a first temperature for a first period of time;   (b) cooling the worked casting; and   (c) re-working the casting into a shape or condition.   
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the method also comprises the step of:
 (d) ageing the casting at a second temperature for a second period of time, after step (b) and prior to step (c).   
     
     
         42 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is 450° C.-650° C. 
     
     
         43 . A method as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the first period of time is 0.5-6 hours. 
     
     
         44 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the first period of time is 6-20 hours. 
     
     
         45 . A method as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein, the second temperature is 300° C.-400° C. 
     
     
         46 . A method as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the second period of time is 2-24 hours. 
     
     
         47 . A method as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the magnesium-based alloy consists of, by weight:
 0.5 to 1.5% manganese,   0.05 to 0.5% rare earths,   0 to 1.5% zinc, and   0 to 0.1% strontium   the balance being magnesium except for incidental impurities.