Energy savings in transportation systems by weight reduction of their components

Abstract

Technological innovation bringing direct energy savings and reductions in carbon-dioxide emissions has been cited as an urgent issue in the field of transportation machinery. To cope with this issue, demand has been growing for structural materials that are lightweight yet offer high functionality because weight reduction of machinery can be immediately beneficial. A new non-combustible magnesium alloy with drastically improved areas of application is sought in which flammability is suppressed -- the worst weakness of magnesium alloys. Developing this new alloy as a basic component for reducing environmental load will contribute greatly to technological innovation for weight reduction in transportation machinery. This paper examines one methodology for industrialization of a new material through the resolution of the various technical issues related to practical application of non-combustible magnesium alloys.