Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion of Magnesium Alloy Machining Chips

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) utilized Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion (ShAPE) to convert magnesium alloy machining chips directly into wrought material. PNNL fabricated 0.25” and 0.50” round rod from cold compacted briquettes pressed from dry-machined chips by Loukus Technologies. The alloy composition is proprietary and protected by a Materials Transfer Agreement (MTA) between PNNL and Loukus. Extrusions were fabricated using the ShAPE 2.0 machine, tooling, and process. PNNL is evaluating tensile properties per ASTM E8 and microstructure for grain size, texture, and porosity using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Tensile properties and microstructure results were not available at the time of writing this document. Extruded rods have also been sent to Loukus for evaluation.. Authors: Whalen, Scott A. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Milligan, Brian K. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Malakar, Aniruddha [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Taysom, Brandon S. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000154623711). DOE Contract: AC05-76RL01830. Subjects: 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; extrusion; Magnesium; Recyclability; ShAPE