Australian alloy

A new Australian magnesium alloy featuring mirror finish, strength and lightness is exciting interest among manufacturers and designers around the world.

AM-lite is a magnesium high-pressure die casting alloy developed by an international research team led by Australian firm Advanced Magnesium Technologies (AMT) and the CAST Cooperative Research Centre (CAST CRC).

According to the centre, AM-lite is the first magnesium alloy that can be readily electroplated, and is stronger and more suitable for decorative applications than most of its competitors, including zinc, plastics, aluminium and existing magnesium alloys.

The development of AM-lite began with a serendipitous discovery. “We were actually trying to develop a low-cost magnesium alloy that resisted deformation for use in engine blocks,” explains CAST CRC chief executive Professor David StJohn. “This particular one didn't work out for that purpose, but we noticed that castings of the alloy gave a beautiful surface finish.”

The discovery was made by researcher Dr. Trevor Abbott, of Monash University, who now heads the AMT research team which is helping commercialise the new technology.