Leggera Awarded DOE Funding in Partnership with FCA to Develop Novel Thixomolding Alloy

Four American-based organizations will receive $2.25M worth of technical assistance for five projects under the Department of Energy’s LightMAT Consortium. Access to national laboratory capabilities will further the development of lightweight materials technologies in another step towards meeting DOE Vehicle Technologies Office program objectives.

FCA US LLC will partner with Leggera Technologies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop a novel magnesium alloy suitable for thixomolding automotive structural components with increased durability and ductility. The new alloy could replace current low-strength steel and aluminum materials, such as those found in door inner panels. This would enable production of larger and higher-volume structural magnesium components with superior mechanical properties.

Read the complete announcement from LightMat Lightweight Materials Consortium.