Magnesium Alloy WE43B
ASTM WE43B · UNS M18432
WE43B is the higher-purity, tighter impurity-controlled version of the WE43 magnesium-yttrium-rare earth-zirconium casting alloy (UNS M18432), held in F, T6, T5 and additively manufactured as-built conditions.
Reference datasheet — WE43B is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the T6 condition
WE43B tempers and conditions
WE43B is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As fabricated | Untreated castings or extrusions, used only as an intermediate state before ageing or for non-structural parts. | 105 | 180 | 6 | 60 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard supply condition for WE43B sand/investment castings and heat-treated forgings; best combination of strength, ductility and 250 °C stability. | 175 | 255 | 8 | 85 HB | 51 W/m·K |
LPBF as-built | Additively manufactured WE43B (mainly bioresorbable implants and lattice structures); fine-grained, moderate strength, needs stress relief and argon-handled powder. | 200 | 265 | 8 | 80 HB | 11 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Choose for extruded bar, tube and profiles where the retained wrought texture gives higher strength and elongation than cast T6. | 205 | 310 | 12 | 90 HB | 11.9 % IACS |
What is WE43B?
WE43B is the higher-purity, tighter impurity-controlled version of the WE43 magnesium-yttrium-rare earth-zirconium casting alloy (UNS M18432), held in F, T6, T5 and additively manufactured as-built conditions. The controlled chemistry raises ductility and corrosion resistance over standard WE43, giving 175 MPa yield, 255 MPa tensile, 8% elongation and about 85 HB in the default condition, with service capability to 250 °C. Engineers use it for high-integrity aerospace and biomedical castings and for laser powder-bed parts. Thermal conductivity is low for a magnesium alloy at 51 W/m·K, corrosion resistance is still modest (score 35) so coating is required, and cost is high; QE22A or EV31A are the nearest alternatives. WE43B has a density of 1.84 g/cm³ (0.0665 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of magnesium alloy grades. It melts at 545°C (1,013 °F). WE43B has a yield strength of 175 MPa (25.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — stronger than 72% of magnesium alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 44 GPa (6.38 Msi).
What is WE43B used for?
- high-integrity aerospace castings
- biomedical implant castings
- critical structural sand/investment castings
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 35/100, better than 100% of magnesium alloy grades
- High service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), better than 93% of magnesium alloy grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of magnesium alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 40 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of magnesium alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 11.6 % IACS, worse than 88% of magnesium alloy grades
WE43B properties
Typical room-temperature values for WE43B-T6; bars are the position among magnesium alloy grades.
Physical3
WE43B has a density of 1.84 g/cm³ (0.0665 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of magnesium alloy grades. It melts at 545°C (1,013 °F).
Mechanical14
WE43B has a yield strength of 175 MPa (25.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — stronger than 72% of magnesium alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 44 GPa (6.38 Msi).
Thermal6
WE43B is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of magnesium alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 26.7 µm/m·K (14.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WE43B conducts electricity at 11.6 % IACS, worse than 88% of magnesium alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), better than 100% of magnesium alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WE43B takes about 380 MJ of energy and emits 40 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of magnesium alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
WE43B's machinability is excellent (95/100, better than 54% of magnesium alloy grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the magnesium alloy family
Yield strength against density for every magnesium alloy grade FabDigit runs. WE43B is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WE43B
Is WE43B easy to machine?
Cuts very easily at high speed with sharp positive-rake tools and no coolant mist; use flood mineral oil or dry cutting with chip containment — never water-based coolant — and manage fine chips/dust as a Class-D fire risk.
Can WE43B be welded?
Readily TIG/MIG or EB/laser welded with matching WE43 filler under argon; re-age (T6/T5) after welding to restore heat-affected-zone strength.
Can WE43B be formed, bent or molded?
Cast in sand, investment or permanent mould with SF6/SO2-free cover gas and Zr grain refinement; wrought forms need hot working at roughly 350–480 °C — essentially no cold formability.
WE43B chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Y | 3.7 – 4.3 | 4 |
| Ndneodymium-rich RE | 2 – 2.5 | 2.2 |
| RE (Gd+Dy+Er+Yb)heavy rare earths | 0.4 – 1 | 0.6 |
| Zrgrain refiner | 0.4 – 1 | 0.5 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Li | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Fetightened vs WE43A (0.010) — key to WE43B corrosion/ductility | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cutightened vs WE43A | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Nitightened vs WE43A (0.005) | ≤ 0 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Others (each / total)0.01 each, 0.30 total | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Mg | balance |
What surface finishes work on WE43B?
Protect with chromate-free conversion coating or plasma electrolytic oxidation (Tagnite/Keronite) plus epoxy primer; isolate from steel/aluminium fasteners to prevent galvanic attack.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Magnesium Alloy WE43B in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- M18432
- ASTM
- WE43B-T6
How much does WE43B cost?
WE43B is a high-cost magnesium alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
WE43B — frequently asked
What is WE43B used for?
WE43B is typically used for high-integrity aerospace castings, biomedical implant castings and critical structural sand/investment castings. In short: highest-ductility rare-earth Mg casting; controlled-impurity aerospace grade; biomedical-capable magnesium.
What is the yield strength of WE43B?
WE43B has a typical yield strength of 175 MPa (25.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — stronger than 72% of magnesium alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is WE43B easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (95/100, better than 54% of magnesium alloy grades). Cuts very easily at high speed with sharp positive-rake tools and no coolant mist; use flood mineral oil or dry cutting with chip containment — never water-based coolant — and manage fine chips/dust as a Class-D fire risk.
Can WE43B be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily TIG/MIG or EB/laser welded with matching WE43 filler under argon; re-age (T6/T5) after welding to restore heat-affected-zone strength.
What surface finishes work on WE43B?
Protect with chromate-free conversion coating or plasma electrolytic oxidation (Tagnite/Keronite) plus epoxy primer; isolate from steel/aluminium fasteners to prevent galvanic attack.
Can WE43B be formed, bent or molded?
Cast in sand, investment or permanent mould with SF6/SO2-free cover gas and Zr grain refinement; wrought forms need hot working at roughly 350–480 °C — essentially no cold formability.
What is the maximum service temperature of WE43B?
WE43B is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between WE43B-T6 and WE43B-F?
T6 is the default condition — standard supply condition for WE43B sand/investment castings and heat-treated forgings; best combination of strength, ductility and 250 °C stability. F: untreated castings or extrusions, used only as an intermediate state before ageing or for non-structural parts. Yield strength is 175 MPa in T6 versus 105 MPa in F.
How much does WE43B cost?
WE43B is a high-cost magnesium alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B80 — Magnesium-Alloy Sand Castings — ASTM International (2015)
- ASTM B107/B107M — Magnesium-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Profiles, Tubes and Wire — ASTM International (2021)
- Elektron WE43B alloy datasheet — Magnesium Elektron / Luxfer MEL Technologies (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- AMS 4427 / SAE aerospace material specifications for WE43 castings — SAE International (2018)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.