Magnesium Alloy WE43B-T5
Temper
ASTM WE43B · UNS M18432
T5 = 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.
Values for the T5 condition
Other WE43B tempers and conditions
WE43B is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at WE43B.
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 |
T5This page 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-T5?
WE43B-T5 is WE43B in the T5 temper — choose for extruded bar, tube and profiles where the retained wrought texture gives higher strength and elongation than cast T6. WE43B-T5 has a yield strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — stronger than 91% of magnesium alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 44 GPa (6.38 Msi). WE43B-T5 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). T6 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; T5 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 35/100, better than 100% of magnesium alloy grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 17 MPa·√m (15.5 ksi·√in), better than 94% of magnesium alloy grades
- High service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), better than 93% of magnesium alloy grades
- High strength — 205 MPa (29.7 ksi), better than 91% of magnesium alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 30/100, better than 82% of magnesium alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 40 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of magnesium alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 91% of magnesium alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 11.9 % IACS, worse than 86% of magnesium alloy grades
WE43B-T5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for WE43B-T5; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are WE43B reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among magnesium alloy grades.
Physical3
WE43B-T5 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-T5 has a yield strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — stronger than 91% of magnesium alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 44 GPa (6.38 Msi).
Thermal6
WE43B-T5 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 91% of magnesium alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 26.7 µm/m·K (14.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WE43B-T5 conducts electricity at 11.9 % IACS, worse than 86% 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-T5 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-T5's machinability is excellent (93/100, worse than 78% of magnesium alloy grades); weldability good (65/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with WE43B-T5
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.
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.
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 | — |
WE43B-T5 — frequently asked
What is WE43B-T5 used for?
WE43B-T5 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-T5?
WE43B-T5 has a typical yield strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — stronger than 91% of magnesium alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is WE43B-T5 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (93/100, worse than 78% 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-T5 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (65/100). 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-T5?
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-T5 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-T5?
WE43B-T5 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.