2070 – 08 – Magnesium Alloys

Magnesium is the lightest commercially available metal, making it an ideal metal to use as an alloy. Unfortunately, it has a host of negative qualities: Magnesium is very brittle, it is difficult to form, and has poor resistance.

So why use magnesium in alloys? Magnesium alloys are incredibly easy to machine, and they are very lightweight. Racecars often have wheels made up of magnesium alloys. When the need for speed changes to the need for strength, though, most manufacturers turn to aluminum alloys instead of magnesium.