"Elektron" in Bf109 Cockpits

[Edelweiss]

Hello,

Do you have any detailed info about the Elektron which was a Magnesium alloy. It was used in many aircraft parts (e.g. Bf109) during WWII. Was it the same material used in the Spitfire cockpit too?

Regards. Ba

[Lennart Andersson]

Elektron = über 85 % Magnesium, 10 % Aluminium, über 4,5 % Zink, über 2 % Mangan.

It was used in German aircraft from the 1920s and I guess that it was a German "invention".

Lennart

[phil]

hello Magnezium:
there are plenty of different so called magnezium sorts


the one used in spitfire might not be the same as used in me109.
I had to repare a magnezium part a few years ago and have doen a chemical analize to figure out the composition of the magnezium. the person who did the tests told me later on the correct % of it coz there are 100.... of different combinations
it also depends factory and what the client wanted to have.
so i would be verry carefull by saying that magnezium of spit is the same as 109
unless you have it stated by a chemical analize of both materials.
at least like this you have a good base
phil

[Andy Saunders]

I believe that Elektron Metal was also a company name (a stylised EM was the logo) and may have been a patented metal composition produced by the EM company. I have many German magnesium metal components embossed with this symbol.

[Nick Beale]

In Neil Hanson's book "First Blitz" he refers to the magnesium stick incendiaries Germany developed late in the Great War which were known as Elektron bombs.

[phil]

hello,
to be technical clear:
as i told in my previous message we have 100... different combinations of magnezium alloys it does not mean 109 magnezium is the same as spit magnezium
this is only a little example of differenties its pure their chemical composition
AZ31X AZ 61A-DE81 AM50A DE 82
Al:2,5-3,6 Al:5,8-7,2 Al:4,4-5,4
Zn:0,7-1,3 Zn:0,4-1,5 Zn:max0,22
Mn :0,2-1,0 Mn:0,15-0,5 Mn:0,26-0,60
Si:max0,02 Si: max0,05 Si:maw0,10
Cu:max0,002 Cu:max:0,05 Cumax0,01
Ni:max0,001 Ni:0,005 Ni:0,002
Ne:max0,05 Fe:0,005 fe:max0,008
others0,05 others:0,05 othersmax0,2
Mg:rest Mg:rest Mg: rest

[Pilot]

As I know this alloy is casted under pressure and only know use is for the wheels, not know about any part inside the cockpit.

[phil]

magnezium ,is a very strong aloy can resist a lot of strength and was also used in wheels, crankschaft covers,other engine parts, with stuka was used to make the canopy and in cockpit section some other parts that are located in cockpit section and gunners position.
from the 109 i don't know i am not familar with the 109 maybe some other readers do?
hope this will be of any help,
phil

[Juha]

Hello
IIRC also engine bearers were made from Elektron in Bf 109s

Juha

ATT: NOW IT SEEMS THAT MY RECOLLECTION WAS WRONG, I HEARD FROM ONE MORE LEARNED FRIEND THAT THE ENGINE BEARERS OF BF 109 WERE MADE FROM FORGED ALUMINIUM.

[leosull]

The mg151 mount in the cockpit of the 109 is also made of elektron.