An Al—Si—Mg aluminum alloy is provided. The Al—Si—Mg aluminum alloy includes: 5 mass % or larger and 10 mass % or smaller of Si; 0.2 mass % or larger and 1.0 mass% or smaller of Mg, 0.03 mass % or larger and 0.5 mass % or smaller of Sb; 0.0004 mass % or larger and 0.0026 mass % or smaller of Be; and a remainder having an alloy composition including Al and unavoidable impurities. In L*a*b* color system, a value of L* that indicates lightness of a surface thereof is 55 or larger.

A corrodible downhole article includes a magnesium alloy, including: a strengthening metallic element comprising at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Cu and Ag and at least one corrosion promoting element in an amount of 0.01-10 wt % in total. The alloy has a corrosion rate of at least at least 75 mg/cm.sup.2/day in 15% KC1 at 93° C. and a 0.2% proof strength of at least 100MPa when tested using standard tensile test method ASTM B557-10. In particular, the magnesium alloy includes 5-10 wt % Al, and at least one of Zn and Mn in a total amount ranging from 0 to 1.0 wt %.

A corrodible downhole article includes a magnesium alloy, including: a strengthening metallic element comprising at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Cu and Ag and at least one corrosion promoting element in an amount of 0.01-10 wt % in total. The alloy has a corrosion rate of at least at least 75 mg/cm.sup.2/day in 15% KC1 at 93° C. and a 0.2% proof strength of at least 100MPa when tested using standard tensile test method ASTM B557-10. In particular, the magnesium alloy includes 5-10 wt % Al, and at least one of Zn and Mn in a total amount ranging from 0 to 1.0 wt %.

Metal sheets (13) are produced from strand-shaped profiles (8) having a low thickness, made of magnesium or magnesium alloys by way of an extrusion system (1). The open or closed extruded profile (8) exiting the extrusion die (6-7) of an extrusion press (1) is shaped to obtain a flat metal sheet (13) and is then subjected to a defined shaping process by way of stretch-forming. The system for carrying out the method is essentially composed of an extrusion press (1) comprising a die plate generating the extruded profile and a shaping unit (5) following the die plate, wherein the shaping unit (5) is composed of a severing unit (2), a bending unit (3), and an unrolling unit (4).

Metal sheets (13) are produced from strand-shaped profiles (8) having a low thickness, made of magnesium or magnesium alloys by way of an extrusion system (1). The open or closed extruded profile (8) exiting the extrusion die (6-7) of an extrusion press (1) is shaped to obtain a flat metal sheet (13) and is then subjected to a defined shaping process by way of stretch-forming. The system for carrying out the method is essentially composed of an extrusion press (1) comprising a die plate generating the extruded profile and a shaping unit (5) following the die plate, wherein the shaping unit (5) is composed of a severing unit (2), a bending unit (3), and an unrolling unit (4).

A thixomolding material includes: a metal body containing magnesium(Mg) as a primary component; a plurality of coating particles provided at a front surface of the metal body and having an average particle diameter equal to or less than 100 μm, the plurality of coating particles being made of an inorganic material differing from the metal body; and an interposed particle interposed between the metal body and the coating particles and having an average particle diameter smaller than the coating particle, the interposed particle being made of an inorganic oxide.

A thixomolding material includes: a metal body containing magnesium(Mg) as a primary component; a plurality of coating particles provided at a front surface of the metal body and having an average particle diameter equal to or less than 100 μm, the plurality of coating particles being made of an inorganic material differing from the metal body; and an interposed particle interposed between the metal body and the coating particles and having an average particle diameter smaller than the coating particle, the interposed particle being made of an inorganic oxide.

Provided is a press forming method for a semi-solid material, including: a semi-solid material carrying step of carrying a semi-solid material into a lower die; a first press forming step of regulating, under a Z-direction regulation state in which a change in the Z direction's dimension corresponding to a pressing direction is regulated by an upper die, a change in one of the dimensions in X and Y directions by compressing the material with a transverse punch so that the one becomes equal to a dimension of the product, and then stopping the punch at a position of the compression; and a second press forming step of moving, under a state in which the change in the one is regulated in the above step, the upper die in the pressing direction to compress the material so that the Z direction's dimension becomes equal to the product's dimension.

Provided is a press forming method for a semi-solid material, including: a semi-solid material carrying step of carrying a semi-solid material into a lower die; a first press forming step of regulating, under a Z-direction regulation state in which a change in the Z direction's dimension corresponding to a pressing direction is regulated by an upper die, a change in one of the dimensions in X and Y directions by compressing the material with a transverse punch so that the one becomes equal to a dimension of the product, and then stopping the punch at a position of the compression; and a second press forming step of moving, under a state in which the change in the one is regulated in the above step, the upper die in the pressing direction to compress the material so that the Z direction's dimension becomes equal to the product's dimension.

A vehicle power steering assembly has a pinion housing comprised of first, second, and third housings. The first housing is a drawn tube formed from a first material. The second housing is a casting formed from a second material. The third housing is a stamping formed from a third material. The second housing is press fit into the first housing. The third housing is press fit and welded to the first housing. The second material has a lesser unit weight than each of the first and third materials. The first, second, and third housings together form the pinion housing.