Grant: Alliance Grants

The proposed international collaboration is for the development of light weight magnesium-lithium alloys that possess high strength, ductility and corrosion-resistance for potential application in electric vehicles. Magnesium alloys have the lowest density among all structural materials and also possess other additional advantages such as high strength-to-weight ratio, good castability, deformability, recyclability and high damping capacity. Further weight reduction of magnesium alloys is possible by alloying magnesium with lithium, which has the lowest density among all metals. The application of magnesium-lithium alloys in the automotive vehicles will lead to weight reduction and efficiency improvements. Despite the excellent weight reduction potential of magnesium-lithium alloys, these alloys have not reached wider industrial application due to reduced strength and corrosion resistance. There is room for enhancing the strength and corrosion resistance of these alloys using the phase diagram of magnesium and lithium. Magnesium alloys with lithium content between 5.7 wt. % and 10.3 wt. % lithium contain a mixture of two phases and this two-phase region is an interesting region that offers the prospect of significant properties enhancement. In this project, it is proposed to investigate the mechanical properties (strength and ductility) and corrosion resistance of the two-phase region and compare with the properties of single phase regions. Melting, casting and mechanical properties measurement will be carried out at Toronto Metropolitan University under the supervision of applicant Prof. Ravi Ravindran and corrosion resistance tests will be conducted at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India under the supervision of collaborating Prof. V.S. Raja. The expertise of Prof. Ravi Ravindran in melting, casting and mechanical properties measurement of magnesium alloys will be complemented by the expertise of Prof. V.S. Raja in the measurement of corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys providing an excellent synergy to successfully conduct this research project. This research is in line with Canada's commitment to reduce fossil fuel use and cut emissions.