ZC63A (ZC63A-T6, M16331) Magnesium
ZC63A magnesium is a magnesium alloy. Cited properties are appropriate for the T6 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated and artificially aged until it meets standard mechanical property requirements. ZC63A is the ASTM designation for this material. M16331 is the UNS number.
It has a very high density among magnesium alloys. In addition, it has a very low embodied energy and a very high electrical conductivity.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ZC63A magnesium to other magnesium alloys (top) and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
60
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
48 GPa 7.0 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
3.3 %
Fatigue Strength
94 MPa 14 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Shear Modulus
19 GPa 2.7 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
130 MPa 18 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
220 MPa 32 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
130 MPa 19 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
330 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
98 °C 210 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
550 °C 1020 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
470 °C 870 °F
Solidification (Pattern Maker's) Shrinkage
1.6 %
Specific Heat Capacity
950 J/kg-K 0.23 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
120 W/m-K 67 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
26 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
32 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
140 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
13 % relative
Density
2.1 g/cm3 130 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
22 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 64 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
920 L/kg 110 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
6.3 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
190 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
58 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
29 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
38 points
Thermal Diffusivity
58 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
12 points
Alloy Composition
| Mg | 89.2 to 91.9 | |
| Zn | 5.5 to 6.5 | |
| Cu | 2.4 to 3.0 | |
| Mn | 0.25 to 0.75 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Ni | 0 to 0.010 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.3 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B80: Standard Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Sand Castings
Essential Readings in Magnesium Technology, Suveen N. Mathaudhu et al. (editors), 2014
Environmental Degradation of Advanced and Traditional Engineering Materials, Lloyd H. Hihara et al., 2014.
Advanced Materials in Automotive Engineering, Jason Rowe (editor), 2012
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993