Overview
ISO 3116:2019 - Magnesium and magnesium alloys - Wrought magnesium and magnesium alloys specifies the chemical composition and minimum mechanical properties for wrought magnesium and magnesium alloys intended for bars and solid sections, tubes and hollow sections, forgings, and plate and sheet. The fifth edition (2019) updates alloy listings and adds newer wrought alloys. The standard defines material and temper designation rules, product-form symbols, sampling and test-piece requirements, and references for test methods.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Material designation and naming: Alloys are designated with a prefix “M” and element letters (e.g., MAZ31a for ISO‑MgAl3Zn1(A)). Rules for rounding alloying percentages and serial letters (“a”, “b”) are provided.
- Chemical composition: Compositional limits for listed wrought magnesium alloys are given in Table 2 (cast analysis at time of casting). Annex A maps national designations to ISO designations.
- Mechanical properties: Minimum mechanical-property values for defined tempers and product forms are presented in Tables 3–48.
- Temper designations and heat treatment: Temper symbols (O, F, H×8/H×4/H×2, H112, T5, T6) follow EN 515 conventions; Annex C provides heat‑treatment schedules.
- Product forms: Standard symbols for ordering - B (bars/solid sections), T (tubes/hollow sections), F (forgings), P (plate/sheet).
- Sampling, test pieces and test methods:
- Sampling, batch formation and frequency of verification are to be agreed between manufacturer and purchaser.
- Test pieces are taken longitudinally (with allowed transverse sampling for certain rolled flat products).
- Chemical analysis methods follow relevant international standards; tensile tests shall follow ISO 6892‑1.
- Administrative rules: Rounding rules (ISO 80000‑1) and retest conditions are specified.
Practical applications and who uses ISO 3116:2019
- Manufacturers and alloy producers - to specify, mark and certify wrought magnesium products.
- Design and engineering teams - to select appropriate magnesium alloys and tempers for weight‑sensitive structures, automotive, aerospace, electronics enclosures and consumer products.
- Procurement and quality assurance - to create purchase orders and acceptance criteria (e.g., “ISO 3116 - ISO‑MgAl3Zn1 (MAZ31a) - F - B”).
- Testing laboratories and certifiers - to apply agreed test methods and sampling rules for compliance verification.
- Standards writers and regulatory bodies - to harmonize national designations and reference tables (Annex A, B, C).
Related standards
- ISO 6892‑1 - Metallic materials - Tensile testing (room temperature)
- EN 515 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Wrought products - Temper designations (temper symbol alignment)
- ISO 80000‑1 - Quantities and units (rounding rules)
ISO 3116:2019 is essential for anyone specifying or supplying wrought magnesium alloys where consistent composition, tempering and mechanical performance are required.
