ZK51A (ZK51A-T5, M16510) Magnesium
ZK51A magnesium is a magnesium alloy. Cited properties are appropriate for the T5 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is artificially aged until it meets standard mechanical property requirements. ZK51A is the ASTM designation for this material. M16510 is the UNS number.
It has a fairly high electrical conductivity among magnesium alloys. In addition, it has a moderately high base cost and a moderately high thermal conductivity.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ZK51A 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
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
45 GPa 6.6 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
4.7 %
Fatigue Strength
62 MPa 9.0 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Shear Modulus
18 GPa 2.6 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
160 MPa 23 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
240 MPa 35 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
150 MPa 22 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
340 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
120 °C 250 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1190 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
550 °C 1020 °F
Solidification (Pattern Maker's) Shrinkage
1.3 %
Specific Heat Capacity
970 J/kg-K 0.23 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
110 W/m-K 64 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
26 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
28 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
140 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
13 % relative
Density
1.8 g/cm3 120 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
24 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
160 MJ/kg 71 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
940 L/kg 110 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
10 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
260 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
64 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
36 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
47 points
Thermal Diffusivity
61 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
15 points
Alloy Composition
| Mg | 93.1 to 95.9 | |
| Zn | 3.6 to 5.5 | |
| Zr | 0.5 to 1.0 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.1 | |
| 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
Welding and Joining of Magnesium Alloys, Liming Liu (editor), 2010
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.
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993