Die Casting

Application of Metal Precision Die Casting Technology in Military Industry

As a new type of green and environmentally friendly structural material in the 21st century, magnesium alloy materials play an increasingly important role in the realization of lightweight technology. Western industrialized countries have researched and developed magnesium alloy materials as important strategic materials, and related materials And research on manufacturing technology is strictly confidential. The earliest application of magnesium alloys in the military industry was in 1916, when it was used to manufacture 77mm shell leads. The specific examples of its application in weapons are as follows.

●Application in artillery and ammunition

The French AMX-30 tank is one of the main equipment of the French armored forces. It is the tank with the largest number of French production after World War II. The barrel heat jacket of the CN105F1 105mm rifled gun of the AMX-30 tank adopts magnesium alloy.

The British army's large-caliber 120mmBATL6Wombat recoilless anti-tank gun uses magnesium alloy, which greatly reduces the weight. With the M8 0.5in rifle, the total weight is only 308kg.

●Application in light weapons

A Racegun (strong charge, a combat pistol using advanced technology) made in the United States, its trigger and other parts are made of magnesium and titanium alloys, reducing the weight by 45% and reducing the firing time by 66%.

The new individual combat system (OICW) developed by the United States has complete functions. Many parts are made of light alloys, and the weight is only 8.172kg. However, the military still hopes to further reduce the weight by more than 1.8kg.

The POSP6×12 gun zoom observation mirror shell produced in Russia is made of magnesium alloy;

The French WK50 anti-tank grenade is made of magnesium alloy, and the mass of the whole bomb is only 800g.

●Application in combat vehicles

The M274A1 military jeep equipped by the US military adopts a magnesium alloy body and axle housing, which greatly reduces the weight, has good mobility and off-road performance, and can be lifted by 4 soldiers. Some modifications are also equipped with recoilless guns, making them the most compact self-propelled guns.

The American amphibious assault vehicle AAAV uses WE43A magnesium alloy to make the power transmission compartment.

●Application in fighter jets

Quality is one of the main factors that affect the ability of weapons and equipment to achieve rapid response on the battlefield. Therefore, modern high-tech warfare has put forward extremely stringent requirements on the quality indicators of weapons and equipment. All developed countries have invested heavily in the research of lightweight structural materials and advanced manufacturing technologies, in order to reduce the quality of weapons and equipment, improve the mobility of weapons and equipment, increase the amount of ammunition and field auxiliary systems, and improve weapons and soldiers. Battlefield survivability and combat capability. Magnesium alloy has become an ideal material for lightweight weapons due to a series of advantages.

Lightweight is one of the important development directions of aerospace component materials. In the aerospace field, magnesium alloys are widely used in the manufacture of important components on aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and satellites to reduce the quality of parts, improve the maneuverability of aircraft, and reduce the launch cost of spacecraft.

In 2021, which has just passed, China Aerospace has repeatedly made great achievements and many bright spots. The Chinese entered their own space station for the first time, Tianwen-1 successfully landed on Mars, and Zhurong left its footprint on Mars for the first time. The number of space launches in 2021 will once again rank first in the world.

According to statistics, in 2021, a total of 144 space launches will be carried out around the world. Among them, China carried out 55 launches, the United States 51, Russia 25, ESA 6, Japan 3, India 2, Iran and South Korea 1 each. The number of launches is the first in the world, and it also set a new record for the number of space launches in China. On January 6, China Aerospace's 2022 schedule was launched. Foreign media believe that China Aerospace will usher in another "super space year".

According to a report on the website of the French "Echo" on January 4, the global space launch champion is no longer SpaceX. In 2021, China's Long March rocket has taken the first place, leading the space rocket launch in 2021. For the first time, China has surpassed the United States in space activity, and in terms of the number of recorded rocket launches in 2021, it is absolutely safe to say so.

Magnesium alloys are currently the lightest metal structural materials in practical application. The use of magnesium alloy metal structural materials in aerospace can bring huge weight reduction benefits and a significant improvement in the combat performance of aircraft. The fuel cost savings brought by the same weight reduction of commercial aircraft and automobiles is nearly 100 times that of the latter, while the fuel cost savings of fighter jets is nearly 10 times that of commercial aircraft, and more importantly, its maneuverability can be greatly improved. Improve its combat effectiveness and survivability.

Now some medium-strength aluminum alloys have been replaced by rare-earth high-strength magnesium alloys, which are used in fighter jets. With the development of magnesium alloy preparation technology, the material properties such as strength, specific stiffness, heat resistance and corrosion resistance are further improved, which further expands its application range.

At present, the main application fields include engine parts, propellers, gearboxes, bracket structures of various civil and military aircraft, as well as some parts of rockets, missiles and satellites. The temperature resistance of folding in half is improved, and various engine boxes, transmission boxes and power supply devices of the aircraft will gradually be made of magnesium alloys. Magnesium alloy sheets are mainly used to manufacture various wall panels, fairings, hoods, doors, covers, frames, fairing foreskin, wing tips, tail surfaces, ailerons and fuel tanks.

New energy vehicles, lightweight to reduce energy consumption. Aerospace also uses magnesium because it is lightweight and durable, reducing costs. Apple phones also use magnesium, and future Apple cars will use a lot, just like Tesla! Even now vigorously developed rooftop photovoltaics use magnesium. Magnesium usage has been growing and will become more widespread in the future.