ASTM B403-12 - 1.11.2012
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers magnesium-alloy investment castings designated as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Chemical Composition LimitsA
Note 1—Analysis shall regularly be made for the elements specifically mentioned in this table. If, however, the presence of other elements is suspected or indicated in amounts greater than the specified limits, further analysis shall be made to determine that these elements are not present in excess of the specified limits.
Note 2—The following applied to all specified limits in this table: For purposes of acceptance and rejection, an observed value or a calculated value obtained from analysis should be rounded off to the nearest unit in the last right-hand place of figures used in expressing the specified limit.

Alloy Number B

 

Composition, percent

Others
 Each

 ASTM

 UNS

 

 Iron

 Magne-
  sium

 

  Alu-
 minum

 Manga-
  nese

 

  Zinc

Zirconium

  
 Rare Earths

 Thorium

 Copper

 Nickel

Silicon

  TotalC
  Other
Impurities

AM100A

M10100

 

...

remainder

 

9.3–10.7

0.10–0.35

 

0.30

...

...

...

0.10

0.01

0.30

  0.30

  ...

AZ81A

M11810

 

...

remainder

 

7.0–8.1

0.13–0.35

 

0.40–1.0

...

...

...

0.10

0.01

0.30

  0.30

  ...

AZ91C

M11914

 

...

remainder

 

8.1–9.3

0.13–0.35

 

0.40–1.0

...

...

...

0.10

0.01

0.30

  0.30

  ...

AZ91E

M11919

 

0.005D E

remainder

 

8.1–9.3

0.17–0.35

 

0.40–1.0

...

...

...

0.015

0.0010

0.20

  0.30

  0.01

AZ92A

M11920

 

...

remainder

 

8.3–9.7

0–0.35

 

1.6–2.4

...

...

...

0.10

0.01

0.30

  0.30

  ...

EQ21A

M18330

 

...

remainder

 

...

...

 

...

0.40–1.0

1.5–3.0F

...

0.05–0.10

0.01

...

  0.30

  ...

EZ33A

M12330

 

...

remainder

 

...

...

 

2.0–3.1

0.50–1.0

2.5–4.0

...

0.10

0.01

...

  0.30

  ...

K1A

M18010

 

...

remainder

 

...

...

 

...

0.40–1.0

...

...

...

...

...

  0.30

  ...

QE22AG

M18220G

 

...

remainder

 

...

...

 

...

0.40–1.0

1.8–2.5F

...

0.10

0.01

...

  0.30

  ...

ZE41A

M16410

 

...

remainder

 

...

0.15

 

3.5–5.0

0.40–1.0

0.75–1.75

...

0.10

0.01

...

  0.30

  ...

ZK61A

M16610

 

...

remainder

 

...

...

 

5.5–6.5

0.6–1.0

...

...

0.10

0.01

...

  0.30

  ...

A Limits are in weight percent maximum unless shown as a range or stated otherwise.
B  These alloy designations were established in accordance with Practice B951.
C  Includes listed elements for which no specific limit is shown.
D If iron content exceeds 0.005 %, the iron to manganese ratio shall not exceed 0.032.
E Silver content for Alloy EQ21A shall be 1.3 to 1.7 %.
F Rare earth elements are in the form of didymium.
G Silver content for Alloy QE22A shall be 2.0 through 3.0 %.

1.2 Alloy designations are in accordance with Practice E527; temper designations are in accordance with Practice B296.

1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI values in parentheses are for information only.

 
2. Referenced Documents

E527-23

Standard Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)

E29-22

Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

Fed. Std. No. 123

Marking for Shipping (Civil Agencies) Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098, http://www.dodssp.daps.mil.

E165-09

Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for General Industry

E88-25

Standard Practice for Sampling Nonferrous Metals and Alloys in Cast Form for Determination of Chemical Composition

B954-23

Standard Test Method for Analysis of Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys by Atomic Emission Spectrometry

B661-12(2020)

Standard Practice for Heat Treatment of Magnesium Alloys

E155-20(2026)

Standard Reference Radiographs for Inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Castings

E94-04

Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination

MIL-STD-129

Marking for Shipment and Storage (Military Agencies)

D3951-18(2023)

Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging

B953-21

Standard Practice for Sampling Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys for Spectrochemical Analysis

B951-11(2025)

Standard Practice for Codification of Unalloyed Magnesium and Magnesium-Alloys, Cast and Wrought

B666/B666M-20

Standard Practice for Identification Marking of Aluminum and Magnesium Products

B296-20

Standard Practice for Temper Designations of Magnesium Alloys, Cast and Wrought

B557-15(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products

B660-23

Standard Practices for Packaging/Packing of Aluminum and Magnesium Products