October 31, 2014
Source: ASM International
For decades, magnesium has been banned for use on aircraft interiors due to the perceived threat of intense fire producing high heat and bright light. Although Mg alloys could reduce seat weight by 30%, this ban has hindered progress in designing lighter-weight structures. Bruce Gwynne, VP Divisional Strategic Development at Magnesium Elektron, UK, began pursuing magnesium use inside aircraft in 2006. He worked with Tim Marker of the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Centre to undertake the many iterations of testing required to approve these new magnesium alloys. Initial tests compared the performance of full-scale seat models made of traditional magnesium to those made of the new alloys. After the new materials (including Elektron43) passed burn tests, the alloy structures were substantiated—including critical extra time before incapacitation on the survivability model—and the material was ready for the next phase.
The FAA has now released a report required to allow the new magnesium in the cabin under special condition approvals. A change to TSO C127a, which references SAE AS-8049 (the standard banning magnesium), will take more time, although the TSO modification is not required to move forward. For more information: Steve Montisci +440.161.911.1220, magnesium-elektron.com.