Material-Specific Joining Techniques for Magnesium Body Structures

In order to achieve further reductions in the weight of the body-in-white, efforts are being made in the field of car design to replace structural elements by magnesium components. In addition to the use of extrusion and sheet metal processes, die casting in particular is an especially important method of producing thin-walled, highly integrative components, because of the very good casting properties of magnesium. Integrating of die casted components into a vehicle structure calls for joining techniques which offer the maximum utilization of the materials of the joined parts under operating loads. This article discusses the necessity for material-specific joining techniques for future magnesium body structures. Using the example of aluminium/magnesium joints, the article describes the benefits of different joining techniques with regard to their efficient use of material in the case of both quasi-static and dynamic loads.