Report on Asian Forum on Light Metals AFLM2012
The International Communication Committee (ICC) of the JapanJapan), “ Time-resolved 3D measurements of mechanicalInstitute of Light Metals (JILM) held Asian Forum on Light Metals

behaviours in aluminium alloys”

2012 (AFLM 2012) on November 9, 2012 at Chiba Institute of

6. Ching-Tang Chang (Vice President, AmLi Materials Technology

Technology (Tsudanuma Campus, Chiba, Japan). The objective ofCo., LTD., Taiwan), “The mechanical properties and applications

this forum is to establish a network among researchers andof Magnesium-Lithium alloys”

engineers of light metals in Asia. The eminent presenters (Fig.1)

7. Yong Tai Lee (Director of Light Metal Division, Korea Instituterecommended from each region of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Chinaof Materials Science, Korea) “Current R&D Status on Ti Alloys inand Australia made valuable presentations on recent academic andKorea”

industrial trends and topics on light metals (Al, Mg, Ti and their

8. Qiang Zhu (Professor and Vice Chief Engineer, GRINM, China)

alloys) in this forum.

“Semi-solid processing of aluminium alloys in GRINM”

The history of AFLM started in 2006, when JILM started

9. Mingxing Zhang (Associate Professor, School of Engineering,organizing International Communication Program (ICP) and held

University of Queensland; Chief Investigator, ARC Centre ofan Asian Symposium on light metals in Japan. Then, the member

Excellence for Design in Light Metals, Australia)“Recent Researchregions rotated the host region of both ICP meeting and AFLM.

Progress in Grain Refinement for Cast Light Metals”.

The host country was Japan in 2006, Taiwan in 2007, Korea in2008 and China in 2010. The AFLM became more gracious each

Prof. G. Itoh explained the trend of research and development oftime by the effort of the host regions. On the other hand, review oflight metals by showing the outline and results of Japanese large

the original objectives of AFLM became necessary. The ICC

national projects “Materials Science on Synchronized LPSO

members of JILM discussed the style of AFLM in order to makeStructure

the international communication activities fruitful in the occasion

Lightweight-structural Materials (JSPS)”, “Fabrication of novelof the start of the second round of the host regions. As a result, thenano-hetero structure aluminum alloys by utilizing iron and 3D

ICC proposed that a forum will be held only in one day with only

structural analyses (JST)”, and “Technology development ininvited talks in a single session so as to make dense and frankhydrogen production, transportation and storage system : Research

discussions in a family-like atmosphere. The policy was supportedand development in elemental technology in hydrogen stationby all representatives of the host regions and explained by Prof.

(NEDO)”. A researcher from other region praised Japanese

S.Kumai (Chairman of AFLM 2012 and ICC Chair Person) at theresearchers, who actively gained research fund for structural

opening address.

materials and promoted R&D.

—InnovativeDevelopment

toNext-generation

The program of AFLM 2012 is shown as follows.

Mr.S.-H.Shih explained the market prediction of aluminum

Morning session, “Recent activity on light metals”

industry in Taiwan. He explained that Taiwan should emphasize

1. Goroh Itoh (Professor, Ibaraki University, Japan), “Research andadvanced aluminum material, which is a specialty of Taiwan, todevelopment in light metals in Japan ---Process, Microstructure,compete with rapidly growing nations, such as China and India.

Properties---”Prof.X.J.Mi explained the industrial trend of Al, Mg and Ti in

2. Shuo-Hua Shih (Vice President, Ningbo Huayang Aluminium-China. He introduced development of original Ti alloys for

Tech Co, Ltd., Taiwan), “Market Outlook of Taiwan's Aluminium

improvement of strength and heat proof properties. The amount ofIndustries”

both import and export of Ti to China is increasing. China is

3. Xujun Mi (Professor and Director, State Key Lab. of Nonferrous

importing mainly tubes, sheets and strips finished with highMetals and Processes, GRINM, China), “Recent Activity on Light

precision.

Metals in China”

Prof.Y. Estrin explained the research on ultra fine-grained light

4. Yuri Estrin (Professor and Director, Centre for Advanced Hybrid

metals by severe plastic deformation at Monash University (Fig.3).

Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash

The results of Equal-channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) enabled us

University, Australia) “Improving the property 'portfolio' of Mg

to strengthen pure Ti to the similar level of Ti6Al4V.

alloys by a new integrated processing technique”

Bio-compatible Ti material can be produced without toxic elements

Afternoon session, “Recent topics on light metals”

through this method. Integrated extrusion and ECAP were

5. Hiroyuki Toda (Professor, Toyohashi University of Technology,introduced as a method for improvement of the performance ofmagnesium alloy ZK60 and the mass production of the alloy.
Application of ECAP to mass production attracted the audienceand was actively discussed.
Prof. H.Toda explained the research results on the mechanicalbehavior of aluminum alloys by X-ray tomography using radiation
facility. This method was introduced to be an effective tool tovisualize the micro-crack propagation and crystal orientation in 3D
and 4D from local strain distribution obtained through 3D of CT.
The application of this method to other materials was introducedwith an example of application to ferrous alloys.
Mr.C.-T.Chang

explained

improvementof

strengthandcorrosion resistance of Mg-Li and Mg-Al-Li alloys, which haveextra-low density and excellent formability. He introduced that thestrength and elongation can be improved by thermal-mechanicaltreatments, and the corrosion resistance can be improved by micro

Photo 1

arc oxidization (MAO).

(Chairman) and ICC members.

Representatives from member regions, Prof.S.Kumai

Dr.Y.T.Lee explained the research and development ofapplication of Ti in Korea, such as the examples of applications toaerospace, defense, medical and bio engineering, energy industry,and refinement and processing of Ti.
Prof.Q.Zhu explained the research and development ofsemi-solid forming at GRINM, which is the largest institute fornon-ferrous metals in China. The importance of precise control ofthe process parameters, such as temperature, was emphasized. The
examples of the results showed that an annular EMS and a coolerin the center of the EMS effective for refinement of primary Si in
Al-Si alloy.
Dr.M.X.Zhang explained the newest research results of

Photo 2 Opening address by Prof.S.Kumai and conference site.

mechanism for grain refinement of cast materials from the pointsof views of peritectic reaction, Q-factor and heterogeneousnucleation. The strategy to find the most effective refiner wassuggested.
Prof.S.Kumai presented a memorial plaque to each speaker. This
forum was such a precious occasion to listen to dense lectures thatthe conference site was full of audience. We were able to listen to
the all of the lectures on aluminum, magnesium, titanium and their
alloys because of the single session. The researchers and engineersof aluminum, magnesium and titanium usually have common
problems and were able to exchange information each other.
Prof.T.Shibayanagi (vice-chair) emphasized at the closing
remarks that this forum should aim at the number one of lightmetals after 20 or 50 years.
Then a buffet party was held in the campus of Chiba Institute ofTechnology. The party was so family-like with a small group that
all of the participants communicated each other.
The next ALMA forum (renamed from AFLM) will be held in2014 in Tokyo in the occasion of JILM fall meeting.

Photo 3

Lecture by Prof.Y.Estrin