Magnesium Information

Facts About Magnesium:

Magnesium Ingot

Magnesium is classified as a light metal. By volume, it is two-thirds of the weight of aluminum, approximately one-quarter of the weight of zinc and one-fifth the weight of nickel and copper.
Approximately 44% of world production is used to produce aluminum alloys, most of which contain between 0.5% and 3.5% magnesium (canstock for aluminum beverage cans is the largest application).

Magnesium ranks as the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust. The main advantage of magnesium is unquestionably its weight-to-strength ratio, which is considerably better than that of competing structural metals.
Experts anticipate that the demand for magnesium will rise significantly over the next few years to reach close to 500,000 tonnes per year by the year 2005, representing a 60% increase from the current level.
The use of magnesium components in the automobile industry is not new. In 1921, Tommy Milton won the Indianapolis 500 at the wheel of a Frontenac equipped with magnesium pistons. In 1926, Elektronmetal Cannstadt began producing die-cast magnesium pistons of which 4 million were on the market in 1937.

End Uses for Magnesium:

Magnesium is used in aluminum alloys to improve their mechanical properties. This is the primary application for magnesium, making up 52% of the magnesium market. A number of aluminum alloys contain up to 3% magnesium.
The second leading application is structural, especially die casting. The automobile industry is an expanding market for magnesium. The use of magnesium alloy parts allows vehicle weight to be reduced and therefore decreases gas consumption and emissions.
Magnesium is also used as a chemical agent to desulfurize molten metal such as steel, thereby improving the quality.

For more information, visit the International Magnesium Association website: http://www.intlmag.org