VW Goes For Thixomolding to Lighten the Load

June 17, 2008

Magnesium injection molding will be a big winner as auto OEMs lighten vehicles. The number of pounds of magnesium in cars remains small, about 10 pounds on average. But that could easily quadruple over the next four years. Molded magnesium will be a winner because it overcomes some of the energy cost and environmental problems associated with die casting. One evidence: Volkswagen is installing a Thixomolding machine in its Kassel, Geremany production plant. VW will use the process to make steering wheels, seating, shifter housings, instrument panels, roof structures and structural chassis components.

Posted by Doug Smock on June 17, 2008 | Comments (5)

November 11, 2009

In response to: VW Goes For Thixomolding to Lighten the Load
fta commented:

engeniring

July 10, 2008

In response to: VW Goes For Thixomolding to Lighten the Load
mnc commented:

Phillips Plastics has a video of a block of magnesium being heated until it starts to burn. The surface melts before it catches fire, and the piece self extinguishes very quickly. Here is the link:
www.phillipsplastics.com/movies/mag_movie.html
I hope no components in my car exceed 900 degrees.

July 9, 2008

In response to: VW Goes For Thixomolding to Lighten the Load
donb commented:

Bill said:
I hope it doesn't catch fire while I'm in one.

That is really a problem only with magnesium wire or strip where the cross section is small compared to the surface area. For anything structural, the cross section vs. surface area is much larger. This causes much higher heat conduction, and the magnesium cannot get hot enough to ignite or maintain combustion.

June 17, 2008

In response to: VW Goes For Thixomolding to Lighten the Load
Bill commented:

I hope it doesn't catch fire while I'm in one.

June 17, 2008

In response to: VW Goes For Thixomolding to Lighten the Load
donb commented:

Looks like things are coming full circle. The engine case for the VW Beetle motor was magnesium. At it peak, its production consumed between 1/4 and 1/2 of the total world production of magnesium.

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