The versatile properties of Magnesium Metal & its alloys make it possible for the metal to be used in a wide range of industries. According to the current estimates, the usage of Magnesium Alloys in industries is expected to grow at 9.9% CAGR from now till 2027. Magnesium Metal has been increasingly used by manufacturers for engineering applications such as automobiles and aerospace body parts. Magnesium Metal also finds its application in firework sparklers, medical, sports and alloying with other metals.
The current up and coming three major industries in which Magnesium is being used include:
Electronics: When adequate thermal conductivity properties are required, Magnesium alloys are used instead of plastics. As a result, Magnesium alloys are a superior choice for dissipating heat generated by electrical circuits in electronic equipment. These alloys are found in TVs, LCDs, Mobile phones and computer cases. Apart from these basic benefits, there are a range of advantages that make Magnesium alloys the go-to material for modern-day electronics. For example, Cutting resistance is lower in Magnesium alloys, making rapid machining easier and costs for prototypes and production lower. Mg alloys are also excellent at shielding electromagnetic interference (EMI) and are frequently used in mobile phone casings or even avionics. In addition, Magnesium alloys are easily recyclable, ductile, less prone to corrosion, and have excellent vibration absorption properties which make them better at dent resistance.
Automobile: Magnesium is now the primary choice globally when it comes to steering wheels, alloy wheels, seat frames, and fuel tank covers, as well as in the gearbox, front end, and IP beams, steering column, and driver's airbag housings. Magnesium's use in automotive applications can bring benefits beyond weight reduction for improving vehicle performance, and use cases now have evolved to cater to better driving experience and driver safety. Magnesium components are being used to minimise vibration and overall vehicle noise. Due to Magnesium’s ability to be cast into thin walls, it offers a great alternative to Steel Components, as through part consolidation, we are able to replace several adjoining heavier steel components with a single Magnesium cast component achieved at Net-Finish during production, this results in high cost & weight saving. The most famous example of this is the General Motors’ Part Consolidation exercise for the Car Door, which combined 15 components of various materials into a single cast Magnesium Component.
Aerospace: Because novel Magnesium-based materials are incredibly light, they are great candidates for use in future aircraft vehicles. This can considerably extend the range of these vehicles. They have excellent castability, are simple to process, and maybe formed into profiles or forgings for use as components in the building of next-generation aerial vehicles. Aluminium alloys are approximately 50% heavier than Magnesium alloys, which is a significant disadvantage for aluminium alloys, especially in the aerospace industry. There is cost-effective novel die casting alloys, besides AZ91 or AM50/60 or MRI230D, which show very good specific strength at room and elevated temperatures. Additionally, Magnesium alloys have high thermal conductivity and excellent heat dissipation. It also has high strength and durability against impact. Moreover, it is corrosion-resistant and cost-effective, making it an ideal material for drones.
References
Monterio, A. (2016). The Influence of Alloy Element on Magnesium for Electronic Devices Applications. Retrieved 16 September 2021, from https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/46861
Höche, D. (2021). Novel Magnesium Based Materials: Are They Reliable Drone Construction Materials? A Mini Review. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2021.575530/full
intlmag.org. (2020). Intlmag. https://www.intlmag.org/page/app_automotive_ima