The resulting parts are used in the following applications: Display housings, IC boxes, seat frames, motor housings, and many more Alloy used: AZ91, AM60, AM50, and many more
A technology developed by a small start-up company in Austria: TPI allows the proven Al die casting infrastructure to be used and converted to Mg – provided that Mg is available at low cost and with low CO2 emissions over the next 5 years.
The process enables the safe processing of magnesium, as only a small amount of Mg is heated just in time, making magnesium processing CO2-neutral (no protective gas, purely electric).
Use of semi-solid Mg for low energy consumption and high product quality. The process uses conventional CCDC to enable broad and rapid application. No new machinery needs to be purchased, unlike with conventional thixomolding.
Foundries can switch from aluminum die casting to magnesium thixomolding using the same equipment – the changeover can be completed within a single shift. This eliminates the risk of “testing” Mg for foundries. The reuse of existing machines also conserves resources. This enables large-scale applications, as the basic machines are already installed. With huge screws that are used exclusively for preparing the mass, large quantities of magnesium can be supplied just in time, while die casting is carried out with the die casting plunger.
TPI aims to combine the best of thixomolding and die casting. TPI has set itself the goal of enabling and promoting the widespread use of magnesium in the automotive industry, with applications of more than 45 kg per vehicle and even body-in-white being targeted.
Source: www.intlmag.org
