Research
Lightweight Metals Processing
Shear Rolling of Magnesium Sheet for Energy, Transportation, and Defense Applications
Background
The major hurdle to the deployment of magnesium products by the transportation industry is the price barrier that currently exists due to the current cost of producing magnesium alloy sheet on a volume basis. Proven technology (e.g., twin roll sheet casting and hot reversing coil mill technology) exists which could lead to lower cost magnesium alloy sheet by as much as 50%.
Goal
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its industry partners will work to develop shear rolling of magnesium sheet to improve the formability while addressing cost and lower energy consumption. New alloys will be developed that are specifically designed for shear rolling. A roll mill will be available at ORNL to independently control both rolls in order to induce shearing/texturing of the sheet. ORNL will use its extensive capabilities and knowledge in texture characterization to identify the optimum manufacturing process route. The alloy sheets will then be tested for formability and two industrial components will be fabricated from the sheets manufactured using the new shear rolling process.
Partners
Magensium Elektron, North America
Contact
Govindarajan Muralidharan
muralidhargn@ornl.gov
(865)574-4281