Magnesium: Properties — applications — potential

Magnesium is the lightest of all metals used as the basis for constructional alloys. It is this property which entices automobile manufacturers to replace denser materials, not only steels, cast irons and copper base alloys but even aluminium alloys by magnesium based alloys. The requirement to reduce the weight of car components as a result in part of the introduction of legislation limiting emission has triggered renewed interest in magnesium. The growth rate over the next 10 years has been forecast to be 7% per annum. A wider use of magnesium base alloys necessitates several parallel programs. These can be classified as alloy development, process development/improvement and design considerations. These will be discussed briefly and followed by some examples of the increasing uses of magnesium and future trends.