Magnesium alloy products are used for military applications in a wide range of forms including castings, powders and wrought products.
Structural castings have been utilised in equipment where its low density offers a significant advantage. Casting size varies considerably in this sector, from the large sand cast components utilised on armoured vehicles, to the more intricate sand and investment castings present in radar equipment, portable ground equipment and Stingray torpedoes. Both sand and investment castings in the defence industry have made extensive use of Elektron®RZ5 (ZE41). Currently, several new defence projects are evaluating Elektron 21, the newest sand and investment casting alloy which combines high strength at temperature with excellent corrosion resistance.
Anti tank ammunition rounds have been a major application for magnesium extruded bar. APDS tank ammunition utilises a magnesium sabot to facilitate the firing of a narrow projectile from a standard 120 mm or 100 mm gun barrel. Once discharged, the sabot is discarded allowing the projectile to continue its course to the intended target. AZ80, AZ61 and AZM are the preferred alloys for this application.
Fine and atomised powders are widely used by the military industry in a range of flare and ordnance applications, notably decoy flares and illumination flares. Decoy flares made from magnesium burn white hot and the intense heat of the pyrotechnic candle consumes the flare housing. Such flares are designed to defeat a missile's infrared tracking capability thus making the use of magnesium instrumental in the protection of military helicopters and aircraft. Ground illumination flares are designed to descend by parachute and illuminate ground terrain and targets.
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