Magnesium alloy is the lightest engineering metal material, and it is an alloy composed of magnesium and other elements. Its characteristics are: low density (about 1.8g/cm3 magnesium alloy), high strength, large elastic modulus, good heat dissipation, good shock absorption, greater impact load bearing capacity than aluminum alloy, and good corrosion resistance of organic matter and alkali. The main alloying elements are aluminum, zinc, manganese, cerium, thorium and a small amount of zirconium or cadmium. At present, magnesium-aluminum alloy is widely used, followed by magnesium-manganese alloy and magnesium-zinc-zirconium alloy.
Magnesium alloys are mainly used in aviation, aerospace, transportation, chemical industry, rockets and other industrial sectors. The specific gravity of magnesium is about 2/3 of that of aluminum and 1/4 of that of iron. It is the lightest metal among practical metals with high strength and rigidity.
