Magnesium is the lightest structural metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It has the symbol Mg and has an atomic number of 12. Magnesium occurs naturally only in combination with other elements. It is an essential mineral for human and animal health. Magnesium is refiner for aluminum and functions as an alloying agent that increases corrosion resistance in aluminum. Some key facts about magnesium include:
– Melting point of 649°C (1200°F), boiling point of 1091°C (1996°F).
– Has a density of 1.738 grams per cubic centimeter.
– Silvery white metal that is quite reactive. It usually occurs bonded to oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur.
– Found in rocks, seawater, and in clay deposits around the world.
– Important industrial metal due to its combination of physical properties, reactivity, and affordability.
Uses and Applications of Magnesium
Magnesium has many applications across diverse industries due to its important physical properties. Some major uses of magnesium include:
Automotive Applications
Magnesium Metal is used extensively in the automotive industry to make lighter components. Automakers are always seeking ways to reduce vehicle weight to increase fuel efficiency. Magnesium alloy wheels and components help reduce vehicle weight. Magnesium components are often used for gearboxes, clutch housing, and engine brackets. It’s estimated that over 60 pounds of magnesium parts are used in some luxury vehicles.
Aircraft Applications
The aerospace industry has long relied on magnesium for aircraft components. Magnesium alloys are lighter than aluminum alloys and nearly as strong as titanium. Wing and fuselage skins, seats, instrument panels and flight hardware commonly contain magnesium alloys. The metal’s strength and light weight are ideal for aircraft applications where weight reduction is critical.
Electronics
Magnesium Metal is used to produce pure magnesium ribbons for photo flash powder. It is also used as the active material in some dry cell batteries as it has the ability to release electrons. Magnesium alloys are used as housings and parts in electronic and electrical products due to their light weight and resistance to corrosion.
Medical Implants
Magnesium is increasingly used for making medical implants like bone plates and screws. The metal is biodegradable and will naturally dissolve inside the human body over time as bone heals, avoiding the need for future removal surgery. Many researchers are investigating further medical applications as magnesium is deemed biocompatible by the body.
Manufacturing and Other Uses
In manufacturing, magnesium is employed as an alloying agent for aluminum. Magnesium alloys have better castability than aluminum and help enhance aluminum’s mechanical properties. It is also used to produce fireproof 100% magnesium sheet for signage, decorative trim and furniture. Other lesser uses include flares, flashlights, steels, desulfurization of iron ore and production of titanium.
Properties of Magnesium that Enable its Uses
Lightweight
One of the most attractive properties of magnesium is its very light density, roughly two-thirds that of aluminum and one-fourth that of steel. This makes magnesium an excellent choice for applications where weight reduction translates to better fuel economy, improved performance and increased payload capacity. Magnesium parts enable weight savings without compromising strength.
Corrosion Resistance
Pure magnesium is quite reactive and readily corrodes. However, alloying magnesium with aluminum, zinc and other metals results in alloys with good corrosion resistance. This property allows magnesium components to endure harsh, wet conditions in automotive and marine engines without deteriorating. The protective oxide film on magnesium alloys inhibits further corrosion.
Machinability
Magnesium alloys generally machine well due to their hexagonal close packed crystalline structure. They can be easily cast, machined, formed or welded using standard techniques. This supports economical production of complex, near-net shape magnesium parts for a variety of industries. Laser welding magnesium is also widely used for precision joining.
Electrical and Thermal Conductivity
Magnesium has one of the best electrical conductivities of all metals, second only to silver. It conducts both electricity and heat well. This property benefits use in electronic devices, battery casings and other applications that require efficient thermal management or electrical transmission. Good conductivity paired with magnesium’s light weight is advantageous.
Other material characteristics like high specific strength, vibration dampening properties, recycling ability further support magnesium’s viability for many structural and functional applications.
Outlook for Magnesium Metal Demand
Automotive lightweighting continues to drive strong growth in magnesium use globally. More stringent fuel efficiency standards are causing automakers to adopt lighter materials like magnesium, aluminum and composites across vehicle platforms. Hot stamped and sheet magnesium components will see rising incorporation into closures, cross car beams and other safety structures.
In aircraft manufacturing, magnesium’s benefit of 15-20% weight savings over aluminum remains a major factor behind its selection. Demand from aerospace is projected to increase steadily along with rising air passenger traffic and fleet renewals.
Medical implantation of magnesium alloys like Mg-Ca is gaining ground due to these materials’ biodegradability and bone compatibility traits. More sophisticated implants and medical applications currently in development could lead to higher consumption.
Other growth opportunities exist in magnesium usage for consumer electronics, power tools and renewable energy equipment as manufacturers emphasize portable, high-strength designs. Overall demand is predicted to expand at a healthy pace through this decade reflecting magnesium’s wide range of applications across key industries. Barring any major economic downturn, global magnesium production and consumption should remain on an upward trajectory.
An outlook addressing continued demand drivers was also examined. As a versatile structural metal present across multiple industries, magnesium plays an important role in modern technology and is poised for further gains. Its inherent qualities and performance benefits will serve to keep magnesium in high demand.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
About Author:
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)
