Magnesium Alloy WE43B-T6
Temper · default condition
ASTM WE43B · UNS M18432
T6 = 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.
Values for the T6 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 |
T6DefaultThis page 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-T6?
WE43B-T6 is WE43B in the T6 temper — standard supply condition for WE43B sand/investment castings and heat-treated forgings; best combination of strength, ductility and 250 °C stability. WE43B-T6 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). WE43B-T6 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).
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-T6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for WE43B-T6; 13 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-T6 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-T6 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-T6 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-T6 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-T6 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-T6'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with WE43B-T6
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-T6 — frequently asked
What is WE43B-T6 used for?
WE43B-T6 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-T6?
WE43B-T6 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-T6 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-T6 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-T6?
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-T6 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-T6?
WE43B-T6 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.