Lightweight 5G base station structural parts require magnesium alloy to show talent

The pace of 5G network construction has accelerated. China now has more than 600,000 5G base stations, enabling continuous outdoor coverage in prefecture-level cities, key coverage in counties and towns, and indoor coverage in key scenes. From the current situation of 5G construction in China, it is estimated that 5G construction will be less affected by the epidemic. Many manufacturers immediately invested in 4G capacity expansion and 5G construction after returning to work.

Massive MIMO technology enables 5G base stations to significantly increase their TRX links, enabling 5G base stations to consume about 2.5 to 3 times as much power as 4G. At the same time, 5G AAU integrates antenna and RRU, but its size is developing towards small and lightweight. Therefore, it needs better heat dissipation method, so it is more stringent on the selection of materials and heat dissipation method. At the same time, AAU is usually installed on the iron frame on the roof of the building and high in the field. For the installation site, the load-bearing capacity and floor area of the building should also be considered. Therefore, reducing the volume and weight of AAU is also an important factor to be considered.

According to the characteristics of large cross section, high thermal conductivity, low density and homogeneity of base station structural parts, magnesium, as a light metal structural material, has lower thermal conductivity than aluminum, but high strength and good shock absorption. Besides aluminum, magnesium is an important choice of material for 5G base station structural parts.

>>>> Characteristics of magnesium alloy

1. Based on the traditional magnesium alloy, the composition and heat treatment process are optimized to optimize the thermal conductivity ratio, which is basically equivalent to the thermal conductivity of aluminum alloy. The thermal conductivity of magnesium alloy material developed by manufacturers is in the range of 180-200W/mk, the yield strength is 150MPa, and the elongation is 10%.

The specific gravity of magnesium alloy is 66% of aluminum alloy and 30% of copper alloy. The heat dissipation performance of magnesium alloy with the same weight is better than that of aluminum alloy. Due to the lightweight demand of 5G base station installation at high altitude, the weight reduction of heat sink is of great significance to the promotion of 5G technology.

In addition to high thermal conductivity, the magnesium alloy has high specific strength, recyclability and low cost.

Although the density of magnesium alloy is light, which is only 2/3 of that of aluminum and 1/4 of that of steel, the thermal conductivity of magnesium alloy is only 60% of that of aluminum alloy. The key to use magnesium alloy as the structural part of base station is to improve the thermal conductivity of magnesium alloy. The deep melting and forming of magnesium alloy has become a new problem. Every tiny flaw in the finished product means a reformulation. After repeated tests, tests and improvements, some manufacturers have developed magnesium alloy materials with high strength and high thermal conductivity. Based on the lightweight advantage of magnesium alloy, Huawei, ZTE and other communication manufacturers have adopted magnesium alloy materials for base station structural parts.

Magnesium alloy not only has a broad application prospect in high-speed railway, subway, automobile, 3C electronics, aerospace, national defense and military industry, but also has been gradually applied in 5G base stations. With the rapid construction of new base stations, 5G base stations with high strength and high thermal conductivity magnesium alloy materials are becoming more and more powerful.

5G base station is accelerating landing. In order to ensure the signal transmission work of various 5G devices in the future, in addition to 5G non-metallic materials, precision metal structural parts will also usher in a new wave of demand peak.