Magnesium sheets and plates are flat-rolled or cast-and-rolled products manufactured from pure magnesium or wrought magnesium alloys. They are used where extreme lightweighting, vibration damping, EMI shielding, and fabrication flexibility are required.
Magnesium sheet is the lightest metallic sheet material available for structural applications.
Chemical Composition – Pure Magnesium Sheets
| Element | Typical wt% |
|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | ≥ 99.8 |
| Aluminum (Al) | ≤ 0.03 |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 0.02 |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 0.02 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.005 |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤ 0.01 |
| Nickel (Ni) | ≤ 0.001 |
Common Magnesium Alloy Grades
| Alloy | Nominal Composition | Key Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| AZ31B | ~3% Al, 1% Zn | Most common sheet alloy |
| AZ61 | ~6% Al, 1% Zn | Higher strength plates |
| AZ80 | ~8% Al | Aerospace plates |
| ZK60 | Zn + Zr | High-strength wrought alloy |
| WE43 / WE54 | Y + RE | High-temperature aerospace |
| AM50 / AM60 | Al + Mn | Improved ductility |
Mechanical Properties – AZ31B Sheet
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 240 – 275 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 145 – 200 MPa |
| Elongation | 10 – 18% |
| Elastic Modulus | ~45 GPa |
| Hardness | 60 – 70 HB |
Physical Properties
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.74 – 1.85 g/cm³ |
| Thermal Conductivity | 70 – 160 W/m·K |
| Electrical Conductivity | 25 – 40% IACS |
| Damping Capacity | Very High |
| Magnetic Behavior | Non-magnetic |
Formability & Processing
Magnesium sheets have limited cold formability but exhibit excellent ductility above 200–300°C. Warm forming is standard practice.
Available Forms
Thin sheets (0.3 – 3 mm)
Thick plates (3 – 50+ mm)
Coils and cut blanks
Tooling plates
Aerospace-grade plates
Applications
Aerospace
Interior panels, tooling plates, structural skins
Automotive & EV
Battery enclosures, body panels, frames
Electronics
Laptop casings, EMI shielding, heat spreaders
Advantages
✔ 30–35% lighter than aluminum sheets
✔ High stiffness-to-weight ratio
✔ Exceptional vibration damping
✔ Excellent machinability
✔ Fully recyclable
Limitations
❌ Limited cold formability
❌ Corrosion sensitivity without protection
❌ Higher cost than aluminum
❌ Fire risk during machining chips
Why Choose Magnesium Sheets & Plates?
Magnesium sheets and plates are selected when extreme weight reduction, flat fabricated structures, vibration damping, and EMI shielding are required.