Magnesium

Magnesium is a light metal belonging to the group of alkaline earth metals. Due to its reactivity, it only occurs in its natural form in compounds and not as an element.

Magnesium is the lightest structural metal and weighs around 30 percent less than aluminium. Since pure magnesium is not particularly hard or strong, it is normally used in alloys (Mg-Al, Mg-Mn, Mg-Si, Zg-Zn, Mg-Al-Zn).

Highly flammable chips and dust make magnesium hard to process. The molten magnesium reacts with oxygen in the air during casting, so this process must take place either in oxygen-free Casting plants or under a protective atmosphere.

Magnesium is normally susceptible to corrosion, which means its surface needs to be protected by Coating or anodising it. Due to magnesium's high electronegativity, electrical insulation must be ensured when combining it with other Metals so as to avoid Bimetallic corrosion.