GENERAL PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
Magnesium is the lightest of the commercially important metals, having a specific gravity of
about 1.74 (30°/o lighter than aluminum alloys and 75o/o lighter than steel). Like aluminum, magnesium is relatively weak in thepure state and for engineering purposes is almost always used as an alloy.Even inalloy for1n, however,the metal is characterized by poor wear,creep, and fatigueproperties.Strength drops rapidly when the temperature exceeds 100°C (200°F), so magnesium should notbe considered for elevated-temperature service.Its modulus of elas ticity is even less than that of alumfilum, being between one fourth and one fifth that of • steel.Thick sections are required to provide adequate stiffness, but the alloy is so light that
it is often possible to use thicker sections for the required rigidity and still have a lighter structure than can be obtained with any other m.etal. Cost per unit volume is low, so the use of thick sections is generally not prohibitive.Moreover, since a large portion of magnesium components are cast,the thicker sections actually become a desirable feature.Ductility is fre.. quently low, a characteristic of the HCP crystal structure, but some alloys have values exceeding 10°/o .
On the more positive side, magnesium alloys have a relatively high strength to-weight ratio with some commercial alloys attai n ing strengths as high as 380 MPa (55 ksi). High energy absorption means good damping of noise and vibration. While many magnesium alloys require enamel or lacquer finishes to impart adequate corro sion resistance, this property has been improved markedly with the development of higher-purity alloys.In the absence of unfavorable galvanic couples, these materials re sist corrosion better than steel and aluminum and have paved the way for applications in many areas, including the automotive market. The numerous limitations, however, generally restrict the use of magnesium to applications where light weight is a domi nant concern. While aluminum alloys are often used for the load-bearing members of mechanical structures, magnesium alloys are best suited for those applications where lightness is the primary consideration and strength is a secondary requirement.