Ejecta From LPSO-Type Magnesium Alloy Targets in Hypervelocity Impact Experiments

Because long period stacking ordered (LPSO) type magnesium alloys have the low density, excellent mechanical strength and ignition resistance, LPSO-type magnesium alloys have a great potential as structural materials of satellites. Ejecta size and crater shape were examined when spherical projectiles struck targets made of LPSO-type magnesium alloy at hypervelocities of 2 km/s and 5 km/s. After impact experiments, crater surfaces and lips near craters were observed X-ray computed cosmography (CT) in detail. Ejecta collected from test chamber were measured. Results of LPSO-type magnesium alloy targets were compared with those of aluminum alloy (A6061-T6). Fracture behavior of LPSO-type magnesium alloy targets seemed to be brittle and many small ejecta from LPSO-type magnesium alloy were observed.