Report on Asian Light Metals Association Forum 2014 (ALMA 2014)
The International Communication Committee (ICC) of the Japan

6. Yoshihito Kawamura (Professor, Magnesium Research Center,Institute of Light Metals (JILM) held Asian Light Metals

Kumamoto University, Japan), “High Strength Magnesium Alloys

Association Forum 2014 (ALMA 2014) on November 14, 2014 atStrengthened by a Novel LPSO Structure Phase”

Koyamadai-Kaikan (Tokyo, Japan). The objective of this forum isSession 4

to establish a network among researchers and engineers of light

7. Jun-Yen Uan (Professor, Department of Materials Science andmetals in Asia. The eminent presenters recommended from eachEngineering,region of Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Australia made valuable“Environmentally friendly conversion treatments of magnesium

presentations on recent R&D activities, industrial trends and topics

alloys -- taking examples of corrosion protection and scrap

on light metals (Mg, Ti and Al alloys) in this forum. Regrettably,recycling”

presentations from China were canceled as a matter of convenience,

8. Tadashi Aiura (Chief Engineer, Technical Control Dep. Kobe

representative from China attended the forum.

Steel Ltd., Japan) “ Current light weighting technology ofThe history of ALMA (former AFLM) started in 2006, whenNational

Chung

HsingUniversity,Taiwan)

aluminum for automotive body structures”

JILM started organizing International Communication Program(ICP) and held an Asian Symposium on light metals in Japan. Then,

Dr. McGregor explained the present status of titanium research

the member regions rotated the host region of both ICP meetingin Australia. Research activities regarding processing the ore toand AFLM. The host country was Japan in 2006 and 2012, Taiwan

metal powder and working with the metal were shown in thein 2007, Korea in 2008 and China in 2010. Since 2012, the forum

presentation. In addition, significant research effort devoted tohas been held only in one day with only invited talks in a single

exploring additive manufacturing was presented. Other areas ofsession so as to make dense and open-minded discussions in a

focus include alloy design and development etc. was summarizedfamily-like atmosphere. In addition, AFLM was renamed to ALMAin the lecture.

after last ICP meeting. The policy was explained by Prof. Kumai(Chairperson of ALMA) at the opening address.

Prof. Niinomi explained the design and development of titanium
alloys for biomedical applications. A novel β-type titanium alloy

The program of ALMA 2014 is shown as follows.

(known as TNTZ) which comprising non-toxic and allergy freeelements with a low Young’s modulus was introduced in theSession 1lecture. In addition, a development of an alloy for spinal fixation

1. Kathie McGregor (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial

devices which has a variable the Young’s modulus attained by

Research Organisation, Australia), ” Titanium Research instress-induced transformation was presented in the lecture. ThereAustralia “were many discussions during Q&A time, and growing interest in

2. Mitsuo Niinomi (Professor, Institute for Materials Research,titanium research activities was proved in this session.

Tohoku University, Japan), “Development of Titanium Alloys for
Load Bearing Implant Devices through Focusing on Young’s
Modulus Control”

In sessions 2, 3 and 4, magnesium research and development
activities were addressed by 5 lecturers.
Prof. Shin explained current R&D activities on magnesium alloy

Session 2in Korea. A significant R&D project for magnesium alloys for3. Kwang Seon Shin (Professor, Seoul National University, Korea),super-light vehicles was launched by the Korean government, and“Current R&D Activities on Magnesium Alloys in Korea”

recent topics of the project such as magnesium sheet development,

4. Mark Easton (Professor, School of Aerospace, Mechanical andhigh strength/ductility castings etc. were explained. The newest

Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Australia) " Light

example explained in the lecture was a twin-roll cast magnesium

Metals Research in Australia with foci on magnesium alloys andsheet developed by Renault Samsung Motors and POSCO which

additive manufacturing "installed in a brand-new vehicle released in 2014.
Prof. Easton provided an overview of some of the magnesium

Session 3
5. Jian-Yih Wang (Professor, Department of Materials Science andalloy systems that have been investigated during this time, theirEngineering,

National

strength and weakness, and shed light on the design of alloys with“ Mechanical

Properties

Mg-Zn-MM Alloy”

Dong-HwaandUniversity,StrengtheningTaiwan),

Behaviorofimprovedproperties.

Also

brief

introduction

ofadditive

manufacturing activity in Australia was addressed. A range ofactivities are being undertaken with increasing focus on biomedical

Then a buffet party was held at Koyamadai-Kaikan. The party

applications with interest in aerospace and defense, industrial andwas so family-like with a small group that all of the participants

mining.

communicated each other.

Prof. Wang explained a research activity of Mg-Zn-MM alloy in
National

Dong-HwaUniversity,

Taiwan.

ThemechanicalThe

next

ALMA forum

willbeheldin2016

inTokyo-metropolitan area in the occasion of JILM fall meeting.

properties of Mg-Zn-MM (Mg97Zn1MM2) alloy was comparable toMg-Zn-Y alloy. The strengthening mechanism was also explainedin the lecture: Mg-Zn-MM alloy is dispersion hardening by astrong second phase while that of Mg-Zn-Y is precipitation
strengthening by a long-period stacking ordered phase.
Prof. Kawamura explained a novel high-performance Mg-M-RE
alloys which has been developed in Japan. The LPSO-type

Photo 1 Representatives from member regions, Prof. Kumai

magnesium alloys, known as “KUMADAI Mg alloy”, produced by(Chairperson) and ICC members.

rapidly solidified powder metallurgy processing exhibits higher
mechanical properties and corrosion resistance than that ofproduced by ingot metallurgy processing. Current statuses ofongoing two national projects were also explained in the lecture.
Prof. Uan explained a research activity in National Chung Hsing
University, Taiwan with regard to exploring environmentally clean
methods for improving the corrosion resistance of magnesium
alloy, and for recycling waste magnesium alloy scrap into somemulti-functional materials. Chemical conversion treatment wasperformed to produce a Mg,Al-hydrotalcite layer and/or calcium
carbonate layer on magnesium alloy for corrosion protection. A
catalyst-free method of producing H2 by mixing magnesium scrap
in an aqueous citric acid was also explained in the presentation.

Photo 2 Opening address by Prof. Kumai.

In sessions 2, 3 and 4, most five lectures were addressed
regarding research and development activities in magnesium alloys.
Discussions were also quite active, and greater expectations formagnesium R&D were realized.
Last lecture was addressed by Dr. Aiura with regard tolight-weighing technologies on aluminum alloys for automotive
body structures. Applications of aluminum products to closure
panels, joining between aluminum and steel, forming technology
etc. were explained. Furthermore, future trend on light weighting
according to trends of recent models of automobiles was explainedin the lecture.
This forum was a precious occasion to listen to dense lectures
among wide variety of light metal topics; aluminum, magnesium,titanium and their alloys in one day.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, ALMA meeting was also
held during lunch break. Delegations from each country discussed
about the ALMA web page (http://www.jilm.or.jp/alma/) and itsutilization.
At the end of the forum, Dr. Tsuchida (ICC chairperson) gave amemorial plaque to each lecturer, and Dr. Aiura (vice-chair)addressed the closing remarks.

Photo 3 Lecture by Dr. McGregor