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The development of magnesium for components which must withstand appreciable loads at elevated temperatures must be accompanied by an expanded material properties database. Tensile, creep and stress relaxation properties are among those particularly needed to provide automotive product engineers with proper information to design in magnesium. This paper provides a compilation to date of property data which are being generated in ongoing research and development programs. Magnesium alloys from the AE and AS series are particularly emphasized.

Magnesium die casting alloys have the mechanical properties of metals, yet are lightweight like plastics and offer the designer a wide variety of applications. Plastics have previously been considered the most cost effective material for components that have limited mechanical requirements. Also, plastics' past history of being lightweight and easy to manufacture has made them attractive. However, in many instances, using magnesium instead of plastics offers a less expensive part that is much stronger, stiffer, just as lightweight and often easier to manufacture.