Magnesium (pure metal) Mg
Mg, elemental magnesium metal (hexagonal close-packed crystal · CAS 7439-95-4
Pure magnesium is the lightest common structural metal, at 1.74 g/cm3 at 20 degC (Goodfellow).
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Weight
1.74 g/cm3
Melting
650 degC
Heat conduction
156 W/m·K
Strength
140 to 160 MPa tensile
Recipe, share of the weight
- Mg 99.8% or higher (ingot, Goodfellow), 99.9% (3N) (foil and powder listings); the rest is impuritiesMagnesium
- Fe, Ni, Cu, Si, Mn not given for the pure grades in the sources readImpurity limits
Best for
Light, unalloyed magnesium for research and for alloying or reducing use, such as Kroll-process titanium production and magnesium-ion battery anode research, where the purity matters more than structural strength.
Weakest at
Strength and corrosion resistance. Goodfellow gives 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength for pure magnesium against 260 MPa for wrought AZ31, and says chlorides break down the passive film. Powder and ribbon are pyrophoric.
Risk at a glance
- People No data. No hazard data recorded
- If it fails High. Ignition of powder or ribbon in air
- Corrosion Severe. Galvanic corrosion is severe unless the parts are electrically isolated.
Quick facts: Mg
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.74 g/cm³ | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 140 to 160 MPa | 1 sourced value |
| Young's modulus | 45 GPa | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal conductivity | 156 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Melting point | 650 °C | 1 sourced value |
| Electrical resistivity | 45.4 nΩ·m | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg)?
Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg) has a density of 1.74 g/cm³. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the thermal conductivity of Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg)?
Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg) has a thermal conductivity of 156 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the melting point of Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg)?
Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg) has a melting point of 650 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the tensile strength of Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg)?
Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg) has a tensile strength of 140 to 160 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the Young's modulus of Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg)?
Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg) has a Young's modulus of 45 GPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is Magnesium (pure metal) (Mg) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Magnesium laptop shells and die-cast housings; Magnesium-ion battery anode (research stage).
Why it exists
Magnesium is the lightest common structural metal, at 1.74 g/cm3 at 20 degC (Goodfellow). It is the third most used structural metal after iron and aluminium (Wikipedia). Pure magnesium is weaker than its alloys: the Goodfellow page gives 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength for pure metal and 260 MPa for wrought AZ31. The pure metal matters where chemistry, not strength, decides the use: as the reducing metal for titanium (Kroll process), as a pyrotechnic and flare fuel, and as an anode material under research for magnesium-ion batteries. Most magnesium sold for structures is an alloy, such as the AZ31B covered in its own profile.
Where it's used
Electronics housings
Goodfellow says a typical magnesium laptop shell weighs 30 to 40 percent less than an equivalent aluminium die-cast housing. The page's example is for magnesium alloys, not the pure metal.
Titanium and zirconium production
Goodfellow says high-purity ingot of 99.8% or more is used in the Kroll process, which reduces titanium tetrachloride with magnesium in a sealed reactor.
Magnesium-ion battery research
Goodfellow calls magnesium an emerging anode material for next-generation magnesium-ion batteries. The sources read do not show a commercial cell.
Recipe
Mg, elemental magnesium metal (hexagonal close-packed crystal; Goodfellow gives a = 3.209 A, c = 5.211 A)
Unalloyed magnesium metal, Mg, with atomic mass 24.305 u. Goodfellow sells it as ingot (99.8% or higher, for Kroll-process titanium production), ribbon, powder, foil, rod and wire, mostly at 99.9% (3N) purity. Goodfellow describes the Pidgeon process, which reduces magnesium oxide with silicon under vacuum, and the metal is also recovered from brine by electrolysis. The US primary smelter in Utah stopped in 2022.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium Mg | 99.8% or higher (ingot, Goodfellow), 99.9% (3N) (foil and powder listings); the rest is impurities | The whole metal. It is the reducing agent in the Kroll process and the active material in an anode, and it is the structural metal in its own right. |
| Impurity limits Fe, Ni, Cu, Si, Mn | not given for the pure grades in the sources read | Impurities control corrosion. Pure grades are chosen to keep iron, nickel and copper low; no limit table was read. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Weight
1.74 g/cm3
measured
Density is 1.74 g/cm3 at 20 degC (Goodfellow), and 1.738 g/cm3 at 20 degC in the Merck Index value that PubChem quotes.
Melting
650 degC
measured
Melting point is 650 degC (923 K) on the Goodfellow page. The metal must be melted under a cover gas, because molten magnesium ignites readily in air.
Heat conduction
156 W/m·K
measured
Thermal conductivity is 156 W/m·K on the Goodfellow page, at a temperature the page does not state.
Strength
140 to 160 MPa tensile
measured
Annealed pure magnesium is printed at 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength on the Goodfellow page. The same row gives 180 to 350 MPa for alloys.
How it compares
Against its own alloy AZ31B, pure magnesium is less strong and more conductive. The Goodfellow page gives 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength for annealed pure metal and 260 MPa for wrought AZ31, and gives thermal conductivity of 156 W/m·K for pure magnesium. AZ31B is about 3 wt% aluminium and 1 wt% zinc, with magnesium as the balance (AircraftMaterials data sheet). Pure magnesium does not carry those additions, and its corrosion behaviour is set by the bare metal. The sources read do not give a corrosion rate for pure magnesium, so the corrosion comparison is qualitative.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | Mg | AZ31B | AZ61 | AJ62 | EV31A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voltage and potential | |||||
| Standard electrode potential | -2.37 V vs SHE11 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Thermal behavior and safety | |||||
| melting point | 650 °C3 | 605 to 630 °C | 525 to 610 °C | no data | 545 to 640 °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 156 W/m·K5 | 96 W/(m·K) | 79.5 W/(m·K) | no data | 116 W/(m·K) |
| Physical and electrical | |||||
| Density at 20 degC, supplier listing | 1.74 g/cm³1 | 1.8 g/cm³ | 1.8 g/cm³ | no data | 1.82 g/cm³ |
| Density, Merck Index value quoted by PubChem | 1.738 g/cm³2 | 1.8 g/cm³ | 1.8 g/cm³ | no data | 1.82 g/cm³ |
| electrical resistivity | 45.4 nΩ·m6 | no data | 12.5 µOhm·cm | no data | 94.6 nΩm |
| Hardness, Vickers, annealed | 35 HV10 | no data | 75.5 HV05 | no data | 47 HV1 |
| Temperature behavior | |||||
| Ignition temperature, ribbonCombustion table of a supplier product page | 650 °C13 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Autoignition temperature, turnings | 473 °C14 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Other measurements | |||||
| boiling point | 1090 °C4 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| elastic modulus | 45 GPa7 | 45 GPa | no data | no data | 44.8 GPa |
| poissons ratio | 0.29 -8 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile strength, pure magnesium, annealed | 140 to 160 MPa9 | 290 MPa | 310 MPa | 225.3 MPa | 248 MPa |
| Atomic mass | 24.3 u12 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Burn rate in oxygenCombustion table of a supplier product page | 25 MJ/kg15 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Titanium and zirconium reduction. Goodfellow sells 99.8% or higher ingot for the Kroll process.
- Light metal where the pure metal is wanted for research on magnesium chemistry or magnesium-ion anodes.
Watch out for
- Fire. Ribbon ignites at about 650 degC and turnings at about 473 degC, and water and carbon dioxide do not put out the fire.
- Chloride and galvanic contact. The Goodfellow page says galvanic corrosion with aluminium, steel or copper is severe unless parts are isolated.
- Strength. Annealed pure metal is 140 to 160 MPa in tension, well below the 260 MPa printed for wrought AZ31.
Pure magnesium is the lightest common metal and the usual reducing metal for titanium, but it is a weak, reactive metal in its bare form. For structures, use an alloy such as AZ31B with protection; use the pure metal where its chemistry is the point.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density at 20 degC, supplier listing | General Properties table of a supplier product page, Density row | temperature 20 °Cform pure magnesium metal (not an alloy) | — |
| 2 | Density, Merck Index value quoted by PubChem | Experimental Properties, Density entry of the PubChem record | temperature 20 °Cbasis value printed in the Experimental Properties section; PubChem cites the Merck Index, 13th edition | — |
| 3 | melting point | General Properties table of a supplier product page, Melting Point row | basis printed as 650 °C (923 K) on the supplier page | — |
| 4 | boiling point | Experimental Properties, Boiling Point entry of the PubChem record | pressure 760 mmHg | — |
| 5 | Thermal conductivity | General Properties table of a supplier product page, Thermal Conductivity row (printed as W/m·K) | temperature not stated on the pageform pure magnesium metal | — |
| 6 | electrical resistivity | General Properties table of a supplier product page, Electrical Resistivity row | temperature 20 °C | — |
| 7 | elastic modulus | Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page | temper annealed (table is headed Pure Mg, Annealed)temperature not stated | — |
| 8 | poissons ratio | Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page | temper annealed (table is headed Pure Mg, Annealed)basis polycrystalline form, as the page states | — |
| 9 | Tensile strength, pure magnesium, annealed | Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page | temper annealed (table is headed Pure Mg, Annealed)basis value printed for pure Mg in the Tensile Strength (Alloys) row; the same row gives 180 to 350 MPa for alloys | — |
| 10 | Hardness, Vickers, annealed | Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page; printed as approximately 35 HV, with Mohs about 2.5 | temper annealed | Printed with a tilde (about 35). Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name hardness_vickers is used. |
| 11 | Standard electrode potential | Chemical Properties table of a supplier product page, Corrosion Behavior row | basis as printed on the supplier page | Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name standard_electrode_potential is used. |
| 12 | Atomic mass | General Properties table of a supplier product page, Atomic Mass row | basis standard atomic weight range printed by Wikipedia as 24.304 to 24.307 (abridged 24.305 plus or minus 0.002) | Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name atomic_mass is used. |
| 13 | Ignition temperature, ribbon | — | form ribbonbasis printed as about 650 °C on the supplier page | Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name ignition_temperature is used. The page gives one figure for ribbon and does not give a powder value. |
| 14 | Autoignition temperature, turnings | Experimental Properties, Autoignition Temperature entry of the PubChem record (cites NFPA Fire Protection Guide, 2002) | form turningsbasis PubChem notes the value may be lower for finer forms | Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name autoignition_temperature is used. Finer powder ignites at a lower temperature, so this is an upper figure for powder. |
| 15 | Burn rate in oxygen | — | basis printed as about 25 MJ/kg on the supplier page | Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name combustion_burn_rate is used. |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Chloride solution, including 3.5 % NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2 (electrochemical and weight-loss tests) | not rated | Pure magnesium corrodes in chloride. This source gives no numerical rate for the pure metal.1 |
| Dry or moist air, and water (room temperature and steam) | not rated | Magnesium reacts slowly with water at room temperature and faster with steam.2 |
| Galvanic contact with aluminium, steel or copper | severe | Galvanic corrosion is severe unless the parts are electrically isolated.3 |
| Chloride solutions at three concentrations, 24 h immersion (pure magnesium and AZ31B-H24) | not rated | The 2015 Corrosion study compared several ways of measuring pure magnesium corrosion in chloride.4 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chloride solution, including 3.5 % NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2 (electrochemical and weight-loss tests) | The 2012 Corrosion Science study (Qiao and co-authors, Hereon record) tested high-purity magnesium ingot in 3.5 % NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2 for up to 14 days. The abstract says the electrochemical corrosion rate was consistently lower than the weight-loss and hydrogen-evolution rates. The supplier page says the native MgO and Mg(OH)2 film is disrupted in chloride environments. | temperature not statedduration up to 14 daysbasis abstract only; the study's rate figures were not readable, so no rate is given here |
| 2 | Dry or moist air, and water (room temperature and steam) | The supplier page says bulk magnesium reacts slowly with liquid water at room temperature but rapidly with steam, and that the MgO and Mg(OH)2 passive film formed in dry air gives only limited protection. | temperature room temperature to steambasis qualitative statements; no rate or mass gain was read |
| 3 | Galvanic contact with aluminium, steel or copper | The supplier page says magnesium has poor galvanic compatibility with most structural metals, and that galvanic corrosion with coupled aluminium, steel or copper is severe unless components are electrically isolated. Conversion coatings, anodising (PEO or MAO) and rare earth alloying are named as protective strategies. | basis qualitative statement from the supplier page; no test result was read |
| 4 | Chloride solutions at three concentrations, 24 h immersion (pure magnesium and AZ31B-H24) | The 2015 Corrosion paper (Bland, King, Birbilis and Scully) compared electrochemical impedance, hydrogen collection, weight loss and ICP-OES on pure magnesium and AZ31B-H24 over 24 h immersion in three chloride concentrations. The abstract gives no numerical rates, so the study adds method context, not a value. | duration 24 h immersionbasis abstract only; the chloride concentrations are not stated numerically on the record |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The only hazard data are PubChem's element-level GHS summary and the Goodfellow notes on fire. Neither classifies a specific powder or ribbon.
- Fire statements
- Magnesium metal is listed as a flammable solid (H228), as catching fire spontaneously if exposed to air (H250), and as releasing flammable gases on contact with water (H260, H261). Self-heating is also reported (H252).
- Eyes
- Burning magnesium gives a bright white light with strong ultraviolet content, and the Goodfellow page says it can cause permanent eye damage on direct viewing.
- Not covered
- No safety data sheet for pure magnesium powder or ribbon was opened.
If it fails
The routes to failure come from the fire data, the water reaction and the corrosion statements.
- Ignition
- Ribbon ignites at about 650 degC (Goodfellow) and turnings at about 473 degC (PubChem). Finer forms ignite at lower temperatures.
- Water
- Water releases flammable hydrogen gas and can ignite it. Water and carbon dioxide must not be used to fight a magnesium fire.
- Chloride
- The passive film is disrupted by chloride. No pure-metal rate was read, so the corrosion rate of unprotected pure magnesium in salt water is not quantified here.
Handling and storage
- Dry storage
- Keep the metal dry and sealed. Keep powder away from oxidisers, nitric acid and perchlorates, which PubChem lists as explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures with powdered magnesium.
- Fire kit
- Keep dry sand, dry graphite or Met-L-X powder for a fire. The Goodfellow page names these as the extinguishing agents.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Ignition of powder or ribbon in airhigh severity | Finely divided powder or ribbon exposed to air, or heating to about 650 degC for ribbon (Goodfellow) or about 473 degC for turnings (PubChem)Vigorous burning. The Goodfellow page says magnesium fires cannot be extinguished with water or CO2, and that powder with more than 50% magnesium ignites readily in air (PubChem reactivity text). |
| Reaction with waterhigh severity | Contact with water or moist airFlammable hydrogen gas is released and may ignite spontaneously (H260, H261). The PubChem ERG excerpt says some reactions with water are vigorous or explosive. |
| Explosive or friction-sensitive mixtureshigh severity | Finely divided magnesium mixed with oxidisers, for example potassium or sodium perchlorate, potassium chlorate or nitric acidPubChem's reactivity profile lists several explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures with powdered magnesium. |
| Chloride corrosion of unprotected metalmoderate severity | Immersion or wet contact with chloride solutionsCorrosion rate is not given here as a number for pure metal. The supplier page says the passive film is disrupted in chloride environments, and that galvanic corrosion with other metals is severe unless isolated. |
Handling and storage
- The Goodfellow page says to keep magnesium dry and away from water. PubChem says contact with water releases flammable gas (H261).
- Keep a dry sand, dry graphite or Met-L-X powder ready for fire fighting. The Goodfellow page says water and CO2 cannot be used on magnesium fires.
- Keep powder away from strong oxidisers, chlorine, nitric acid and perchlorates. PubChem lists explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures with these.
- Melt and cast under a protective cover gas such as SF6 or CO2/SO2, because molten magnesium ignites readily in air.
Mitigations
- Goodfellow lists conversion coatings, anodising (PEO or MAO), and rare earth alloying as protective strategies for magnesium against corrosion.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Magnesium metal, world primary (smelter) production, 2025
USGS: resources for magnesium range from large to virtually unlimited and are globally widespread; magnesium-bearing brines are estimated to be a resource in the billions of tons.
- Top producers (2025)
- China 87.7%, Russia 5.5%, Brazil 1.8%, Israel 1.8%, Turkey 1.4%, Kazakhstan 1.2%, Iran 0.5%, United States 0%
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- USGS: about 110 thousand t of secondary magnesium was recovered from scrap in 2025 (estimate); about 26,000 tons from old scrap and 82,000 tons from new scrap. The only US primary smelter, in Utah, stopped production in 2022, and its operator filed for Chapter 11 in September 2025.
- Substitutes
- USGS: aluminium and zinc may substitute for magnesium in castings and wrought products. Magnesium's light weight is an advantage over them in most applications; its high cost is a disadvantage.
Magnesium metal imported to the United States, 2021 to 2024 (99.8 % purity)
- Top producers
- Israel 47%, Turkey 31%, Russia 8%, China 6%
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: magnesium
spore_version: 0.2
family: magnesium-alloys
name: Magnesium (pure metal)
abbreviation: Mg
role: light structural metal, alloying base and reducing metal
category: metals
type: magnesium
summary: |
Pure magnesium is the lightest common structural metal, at 1.74 g/cm3 at 20 degC (Goodfellow). It melts at 650 degC and is hexagonal close-packed, so it bends less easily than aluminium at room temperature. Its weak point is chemistry: it is the most electrochemically active structural metal, the native oxide film gives little protection in chloride, and finely divided powder or ribbon ignites in air. Most magnesium sold for structures is an alloy such as AZ31B; this profile covers the unalloyed metal in ingot, ribbon and powder form.
best_for: Light, unalloyed magnesium for research and for alloying or reducing use, such as Kroll-process titanium production and magnesium-ion battery anode research, where the purity matters more than structural strength.
weakest_at: Strength and corrosion resistance. Goodfellow gives 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength for pure magnesium against 260 MPa for wrought AZ31, and says chlorides break down the passive film. Powder and ribbon are pyrophoric.
identity:
formula: Mg, elemental magnesium metal (hexagonal close-packed crystal; Goodfellow gives a = 3.209 A, c = 5.211 A)
cas: 7439-95-4
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Identifier table (CAS Number 7439-95-4; Symbol Mg; Atomic Number 12); Crystal Structure row of the General Properties table
tags:
environments: []
applications:
- electronics-and-chips
- batteries
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density at 20 degC, supplier listing
value: 1.74
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 °C
form: pure magnesium metal (not an alloy)
method: General Properties table of a supplier product page, Density row
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Density (20 °C) row
- benchmark: density
label: Density, Merck Index value quoted by PubChem
value: 1.738
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 °C
basis: value printed in the Experimental Properties section; PubChem cites the Merck Index, 13th edition
method: Experimental Properties, Density entry of the PubChem record
status: ground
source: pubchem-mg
where: Chemical and Physical Properties, Experimental Properties, Density (Merck Index entry)
- benchmark: melting_point
value: 650
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: printed as 650 °C (923 K) on the supplier page
method: General Properties table of a supplier product page, Melting Point row
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Melting Point row
- benchmark: boiling_point
value: 1090
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
pressure: 760 mmHg
method: Experimental Properties, Boiling Point entry of the PubChem record
status: ground
source: pubchem-mg
where: Chemical and Physical Properties, Experimental Properties, Boiling Point (1090 °C @760 [mm Hg])
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
value: 156
unit: W/m·K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
form: pure magnesium metal
method: General Properties table of a supplier product page, Thermal Conductivity row (printed as W/m·K)
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Thermal Conductivity row
- benchmark: electrical_resistivity
value: 45.4
unit: nΩ·m
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 °C
method: General Properties table of a supplier product page, Electrical Resistivity row
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Electrical Resistivity row
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
value: 45
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: annealed (table is headed Pure Mg, Annealed)
temperature: not stated
method: Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Mechanical Properties (Pure Mg, Annealed) table, Elastic (Young's) Modulus row
- benchmark: poissons_ratio
value: 0.29
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
temper: annealed (table is headed Pure Mg, Annealed)
basis: polycrystalline form, as the page states
method: Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Mechanical Properties (Pure Mg, Annealed) table, Poisson's Ratio row
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, pure magnesium, annealed
value: 140
value_high: 160
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: annealed (table is headed Pure Mg, Annealed)
basis: value printed for pure Mg in the Tensile Strength (Alloys) row; the same row gives 180 to 350 MPa for alloys
method: Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Mechanical Properties (Pure Mg, Annealed) table, Tensile Strength (Alloys) row
- benchmark: hardness_vickers
label: Hardness, Vickers, annealed
value: 35
unit: HV
scope: material
conditions:
temper: annealed
method: Mechanical Properties table (Pure Mg, Annealed) of a supplier product page; printed as approximately 35 HV, with Mohs about 2.5
status: ground
note: Printed with a tilde (about 35). Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name hardness_vickers is used.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Mechanical Properties (Pure Mg, Annealed) table, Hardness row
- benchmark: standard_electrode_potential
label: Standard electrode potential
value: -2.37
unit: V vs SHE
scope: material
conditions:
basis: as printed on the supplier page
method: Chemical Properties table of a supplier product page, Corrosion Behavior row
status: ground
note: Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name standard_electrode_potential is used.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Chemical Properties table, Corrosion Behavior row
- benchmark: atomic_mass
label: Atomic mass
value: 24.305
unit: u
scope: material
conditions:
basis: standard atomic weight range printed by Wikipedia as 24.304 to 24.307 (abridged 24.305 plus or minus 0.002)
method: General Properties table of a supplier product page, Atomic Mass row
status: ground
note: Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name atomic_mass is used.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Atomic Mass row
- benchmark: ignition_temperature
label: Ignition temperature, ribbon
value: 650
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
form: ribbon
basis: printed as about 650 °C on the supplier page
method: Combustion table of a supplier product page
status: ground
note: Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name ignition_temperature is used. The page gives one figure for ribbon and does not give a powder value.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Combustion row (ignition temperature about 650 °C, ribbon); Reactivity with Water and Air row
- benchmark: autoignition_temperature
label: Autoignition temperature, turnings
value: 473
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
form: turnings
basis: PubChem notes the value may be lower for finer forms
method: Experimental Properties, Autoignition Temperature entry of the PubChem record (cites NFPA Fire Protection Guide, 2002)
status: ground
note: Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name autoignition_temperature is used. Finer powder ignites at a lower temperature, so this is an upper figure for powder.
source: pubchem-mg
where: Chemical and Physical Properties, Experimental Properties, Autoignition Temperature (883 °F (473 °C) for turnings)
- benchmark: combustion_burn_rate
label: Burn rate in oxygen
value: 25
unit: MJ/kg
scope: material
conditions:
basis: printed as about 25 MJ/kg on the supplier page
method: Combustion table of a supplier product page
status: ground
note: Not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so the snake_case name combustion_burn_rate is used.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Combustion row
corrosion:
- environment: Chloride solution, including 3.5 % NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2 (electrochemical and weight-loss tests)
headline: Pure magnesium corrodes in chloride. This source gives no numerical rate for the pure metal.
effect: The 2012 Corrosion Science study (Qiao and co-authors, Hereon record) tested high-purity magnesium ingot in 3.5 % NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2 for up to 14 days. The abstract says the electrochemical corrosion rate was consistently lower than the weight-loss and hydrogen-evolution rates. The supplier page says the native MgO and Mg(OH)2 film is disrupted in chloride environments.
rating: unknown
conditions:
temperature: not stated
duration: up to 14 days
basis: abstract only; the study's rate figures were not readable, so no rate is given here
source: qiao2012
where: Abstract
- environment: Dry or moist air, and water (room temperature and steam)
headline: Magnesium reacts slowly with water at room temperature and faster with steam.
effect: The supplier page says bulk magnesium reacts slowly with liquid water at room temperature but rapidly with steam, and that the MgO and Mg(OH)2 passive film formed in dry air gives only limited protection.
rating: unknown
conditions:
temperature: room temperature to steam
basis: qualitative statements; no rate or mass gain was read
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Chemical Properties table, Reactivity with Water and Air row; Corrosion Behavior row
- environment: Galvanic contact with aluminium, steel or copper
headline: Galvanic corrosion is severe unless the parts are electrically isolated.
effect: The supplier page says magnesium has poor galvanic compatibility with most structural metals, and that galvanic corrosion with coupled aluminium, steel or copper is severe unless components are electrically isolated. Conversion coatings, anodising (PEO or MAO) and rare earth alloying are named as protective strategies.
rating: severe
conditions:
basis: qualitative statement from the supplier page; no test result was read
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Chemical Properties table, Corrosion Behavior row
- environment: Chloride solutions at three concentrations, 24 h immersion (pure magnesium and AZ31B-H24)
headline: The 2015 Corrosion study compared several ways of measuring pure magnesium corrosion in chloride.
effect: The 2015 Corrosion paper (Bland, King, Birbilis and Scully) compared electrochemical impedance, hydrogen collection, weight loss and ICP-OES on pure magnesium and AZ31B-H24 over 24 h immersion in three chloride concentrations. The abstract gives no numerical rates, so the study adds method context, not a value.
rating: unknown
conditions:
duration: 24 h immersion
basis: abstract only; the chloride concentrations are not stated numerically on the record
source: bland2015
where: Abstract
risks:
hazards:
- text: PubChem's aggregated GHS reports for magnesium metal (2,205 company reports from 27 ECHA notifications) give H228 (flammable solid) in 44.9% of reports, H250 (catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air) in 36.5%, H260 (in contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously) in 36.7%, H261 (in contact with water releases flammable gas) in 44.8% and H252 (self-heating in large quantities; may catch fire) in 18%. 18.4% of reports (405 of 2,205) say the element does not meet GHS criteria. These are element-level statements, not a classification of a particular powder or ribbon.
ghs:
- H228
- H250
- H260
- H261
- H252
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 5462224)
- text: 'Fire fighting: PubChem''s CHRIS and ERG (Guide 138) excerpts say not to use water, foam, halogenated agents or carbon dioxide on a magnesium fire, and to use dry sand, dry powder or inert powders such as graphite, limestone or salt. The Goodfellow page says burning magnesium cannot be put out with CO2 or N2.'
ghs: []
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, Fire Hazards and Fire Fighting sections
- text: The Goodfellow page says the bright white flame of burning magnesium emits strong ultraviolet and visible light, and can cause permanent eye damage on direct viewing without UV-filtering eye protection.
ghs: []
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Combustion row
failure_risks:
- mode: Ignition of powder or ribbon in air
trigger: Finely divided powder or ribbon exposed to air, or heating to about 650 degC for ribbon (Goodfellow) or about 473 degC for turnings (PubChem)
consequence: Vigorous burning. The Goodfellow page says magnesium fires cannot be extinguished with water or CO2, and that powder with more than 50% magnesium ignites readily in air (PubChem reactivity text).
severity: high
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Combustion row; Reactivity with Water and Air row; PubChem Reactivity Profile (powder over 50% magnesium ignites readily in air) is cited in the same record
- mode: Reaction with water
trigger: Contact with water or moist air
consequence: Flammable hydrogen gas is released and may ignite spontaneously (H260, H261). The PubChem ERG excerpt says some reactions with water are vigorous or explosive.
severity: high
source: pubchem-mg
where: GHS Classification, H260 and H261 statements; Fire Hazards (ERG Guide 138)
- mode: Explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures
trigger: Finely divided magnesium mixed with oxidisers, for example potassium or sodium perchlorate, potassium chlorate or nitric acid
consequence: PubChem's reactivity profile lists several explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures with powdered magnesium.
severity: high
source: pubchem-mg
where: Stability and Reactivity, Reactivity Profile
- mode: Chloride corrosion of unprotected metal
trigger: Immersion or wet contact with chloride solutions
consequence: Corrosion rate is not given here as a number for pure metal. The supplier page says the passive film is disrupted in chloride environments, and that galvanic corrosion with other metals is severe unless isolated.
severity: moderate
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Chemical Properties table, Corrosion Behavior row
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: The Goodfellow page says to keep magnesium dry and away from water. PubChem says contact with water releases flammable gas (H261).
source: pubchem-mg
where: GHS Classification, H260 and H261 statements (CID 5462224)
- text: Keep a dry sand, dry graphite or Met-L-X powder ready for fire fighting. The Goodfellow page says water and CO2 cannot be used on magnesium fires.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Chemical Properties table, Reactivity with Water and Air and Combustion rows
- text: Keep powder away from strong oxidisers, chlorine, nitric acid and perchlorates. PubChem lists explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures with these.
source: pubchem-mg
where: Stability and Reactivity, Reactivity Profile
- text: Melt and cast under a protective cover gas such as SF6 or CO2/SO2, because molten magnesium ignites readily in air.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Melting Point row
mitigations:
- text: Goodfellow lists conversion coatings, anodising (PEO or MAO), and rare earth alloying as protective strategies for magnesium against corrosion.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Chemical Properties table, Corrosion Behavior row
uses:
- application: electronics-and-chips
device: Magnesium laptop shells and die-cast housings
example: Goodfellow says a typical magnesium laptop shell weighs 30 to 40 percent less than an equivalent aluminium die-cast housing. The page's example is for magnesium alloys rather than pure metal.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Applications section, electronics housings paragraph
- application: batteries
device: Magnesium-ion battery anode (research stage)
example: Goodfellow calls magnesium an emerging anode material for next-generation magnesium-ion batteries. This is a research use, not a product in the sources read.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Uses paragraph (pyrotechnics, Kroll process, implants and batteries)
supply:
- subject: Magnesium metal, world primary (smelter) production, 2025
abundance: 'USGS: resources for magnesium range from large to virtually unlimited and are globally widespread; magnesium-bearing brines are estimated to be a resource in the billions of tons.'
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 87.7
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 5.5
year: 2025
- country: Brazil
share_percent: 1.8
year: 2025
- country: Israel
share_percent: 1.8
year: 2025
- country: Turkey
share_percent: 1.4
year: 2025
- country: Kazakhstan
share_percent: 1.2
year: 2025
- country: Iran
share_percent: 0.5
year: 2025
- country: United States
share_percent: 0
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: 'USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals: Magnesium, used in metal alloys used by aerospace, automotive and electronics industries'
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS: about 110 thousand t of secondary magnesium was recovered from scrap in 2025 (estimate); about 26,000 tons from old scrap and 82,000 tons from new scrap. The only US primary smelter, in Utah, stopped production in 2022, and its operator filed for Chapter 11 in September 2025.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: aluminium and zinc may substitute for magnesium in castings and wrought products. Magnesium''s light weight is an advantage over them in most applications; its high cost is a disadvantage.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-magnesium-metal
where: 'World Primary Production and Reserves table, smelter production 2025 (tonnages in thousand t: China 950, Russia 60, Brazil 20, Israel 20, Turkey 15, Kazakhstan 13, Iran 5; world total 1,100 rounded). Shares calculated by Space Mushroom over the sum of the listed 2025 values (1,083 thousand t). Recycling; Substitutes; Events, Trends and Issues.'
- subject: Magnesium metal imported to the United States, 2021 to 2024 (99.8 % purity)
producers:
- country: Israel
share_percent: 47
- country: Turkey
share_percent: 31
- country: Russia
share_percent: 8
- country: China
share_percent: 6
source: usgs-mcs2026-magnesium-metal
where: Import Sources (2021-24), magnesium metal (99.8% purity) row; the other 8% is not listed by country
documents:
- title: 'Goodfellow: High-Purity Magnesium Metal, product page with general, mechanical and chemical property tables'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/material/metals/magnesium
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Magnesium Metal'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-magnesium-metal.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
type: report
url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
year: 2025
- title: 'PubChem: Magnesium, CID 5462224, Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification and Experimental Properties'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462224
- title: Corrosion behaviour of a nominally high purity Mg ingot produced by permanent mould direct chill casting (Corrosion Science, 2012)
type: paper
url: https://publications.hzg.de/id/29895/index.php
year: 2012
- title: Assessing the corrosion of commercially pure magnesium and AZ31B (Corrosion, NACE, 2015)
type: paper
url: https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/assessing-the-corrosion-of-commercially-pure-magnesium-and-commer/
year: 2015
- title: 'AircraftMaterialsUK technical data sheet: Magnesium Alloy AZ31B (for the composition comparison only)'
type: datasheet
url: https://aircraftmaterials.com/data/magnesium/az31b.html
- title: 'Wikipedia: Magnesium (history, crystal structure, standard atomic weight)'
type: report
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium
gaps:
- Specific heat and coefficient of thermal expansion for pure magnesium were not found in a readable source in this run. The AZ31B figures are for an alloy and are not used here.
- No numerical corrosion rate for pure magnesium was read. The Corrosion Science 2012 and Corrosion 2015 records are abstract pages with no rate values, and the Elsevier full text (doi 10.1016/j.jma.2022.08.003) and the Atrens 2020 review could not be opened. The corrosion rating for each entry is therefore unknown or qualitative.
- Impurity limits for the 99.9% (3N) grade and the 99.8%+ ingot were not found as a table. The Goodfellow page gives only the purity figures; the USGS import line gives 99.8% purity.
- No UNS, EN, ASTM or other grade designation for unalloyed magnesium was read, so identity.designations is empty.
- No safety data sheet for pure magnesium powder or ribbon was opened. Hazard data rest on PubChem's element-level GHS summary, the ERG excerpts it carries, and the Goodfellow page.
- Ribbon ignition temperature (about 650 degC) and powder ignition behaviour are reported without a test method. The 473 degC figure is for turnings and PubChem notes finer forms ignite lower.
- Specific heat, Mohs-type and Brinell hardness rows, and electrode data at temperatures other than 20 degC were not found.
- Space and cryogenic data (outgassing, radiation, thermal-vacuum) were not searched for pure magnesium. The uses listed are terrestrial.
- Hardness and ignition property names (hardness_vickers, ignition_temperature, autoignition_temperature, combustion_burn_rate, standard_electrode_potential, atomic_mass) are not in spores/property-canon.yaml and are used as snake_case names.
- EU critical raw materials list not read for magnesium, so no EU listing is recorded.
- No images were read in this run, so the media section is not included.
- Wikipedia is used for crystal structure, history and standard atomic weight only.
sources:
goodfellow-mg-metal:
title: 'Goodfellow: High-Purity Magnesium Metal (general, mechanical and chemical property tables)'
url: https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/material/metals/magnesium
kind: datasheet
license: Supplier web page, cited and not reproduced
usgs-mcs2026-magnesium-metal:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Magnesium Metal'
id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-magnesium-metal.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-crit2025:
title: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals (USGS, final list of 60 minerals)
url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
year: 2025
kind: web
license: public domain (USGS)
pubchem-mg:
title: 'Magnesium, PubChem compound CID 5462224: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification; Experimental Properties'
id: PubChem CID 5462224; GHS aggregated from ECHA C&L notifications
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/5462224/JSON
kind: database
license: PubChem (NCBI) public data
qiao2012:
title: Corrosion behaviour of a nominally high purity Mg ingot produced by permanent mould direct chill casting (Qiao, Shi, Hort, Abidin, Atrens; Corrosion Science 61, 185-207)
id: doi:10.1016/j.corsci.2012.04.030
url: https://publications.hzg.de/id/29895/index.php
year: 2012
kind: paper
license: publisher record (abstract read)
bland2015:
title: Assessing the corrosion of commercially pure magnesium and AZ31B (Bland, King, Birbilis, Scully; Corrosion 71(2), 128-145)
id: doi:10.5006/1419
url: https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/assessing-the-corrosion-of-commercially-pure-magnesium-and-commer/
year: 2015
kind: paper
license: publisher record (abstract read)
aircraftmaterials-az31b:
title: 'AircraftMaterialsUK technical data sheet: Magnesium Alloy AZ31B (composition limits)'
url: https://aircraftmaterials.com/data/magnesium/az31b.html
kind: datasheet
license: Stockist web page, cited and not reproduced
wikipedia-magnesium:
title: 'Wikipedia: Magnesium'
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA (Wikipedia), cited for history, structure and atomic weight only
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 15
unreachable: 2
caveats: 3
note: 'Written 2026-10-26 from pages fetched in this run. Values are as printed, except shares in supply that are calculated from printed tonnages. No pure-magnesium corrosion rate was read: the two corrosion papers are abstract pages without rates, and the full-text journal pages could not be opened.'
story:
recipe:
line: Unalloyed magnesium metal, Mg, with atomic mass 24.305 u. Goodfellow sells it as ingot (99.8% or higher, for Kroll-process titanium production), ribbon, powder, foil, rod and wire, mostly at 99.9% (3N) purity. Goodfellow describes the Pidgeon process, which reduces magnesium oxide with silicon under vacuum, and the metal is also recovered from brine by electrolysis. The US primary smelter in Utah stopped in 2022.
parts:
- name: Magnesium
symbol: Mg
atoms: 1
atomic_weight: 24.305
share_note: 99.8% or higher (ingot, Goodfellow), 99.9% (3N) (foil and powder listings); the rest is impurities
role: The whole metal. It is the reducing agent in the Kroll process and the active material in an anode, and it is the structural metal in its own right.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: General Properties table, Atomic Mass row; Metal Reduction section (ingot 99.8%+); title line (Mg 99.9% 3N)
- name: Impurity limits
symbol: Fe, Ni, Cu, Si, Mn
share_note: not given for the pure grades in the sources read
role: Impurities control corrosion. Pure grades are chosen to keep iron, nickel and copper low; no limit table was read.
source: goodfellow-mg-metal
where: Gap noted; not read
risk_groups:
- title: For people
lead: The only hazard data are PubChem's element-level GHS summary and the Goodfellow notes on fire. Neither classifies a specific powder or ribbon.
gap: No safety data sheet for pure magnesium powder or ribbon was opened.
points:
- label: Fire statements
line: Magnesium metal is listed as a flammable solid (H228), as catching fire spontaneously if exposed to air (H250), and as releasing flammable gases on contact with water (H260, H261). Self-heating is also reported (H252).
- label: Eyes
line: Burning magnesium gives a bright white light with strong ultraviolet content, and the Goodfellow page says it can cause permanent eye damage on direct viewing.
- title: If it fails
lead: The routes to failure come from the fire data, the water reaction and the corrosion statements.
points:
- label: Ignition
line: Ribbon ignites at about 650 degC (Goodfellow) and turnings at about 473 degC (PubChem). Finer forms ignite at lower temperatures.
- label: Water
line: Water releases flammable hydrogen gas and can ignite it. Water and carbon dioxide must not be used to fight a magnesium fire.
- label: Chloride
line: The passive film is disrupted by chloride. No pure-metal rate was read, so the corrosion rate of unprotected pure magnesium in salt water is not quantified here.
- title: Handling and storage
points:
- label: Dry storage
line: Keep the metal dry and sealed. Keep powder away from oxidisers, nitric acid and perchlorates, which PubChem lists as explosive or friction-sensitive mixtures with powdered magnesium.
- label: Fire kit
line: Keep dry sand, dry graphite or Met-L-X powder for a fire. The Goodfellow page names these as the extinguishing agents.
why: 'Magnesium is the lightest common structural metal, at 1.74 g/cm3 at 20 degC (Goodfellow). It is the third most used structural metal after iron and aluminium (Wikipedia). Pure magnesium is weaker than its alloys: the Goodfellow page gives 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength for pure metal and 260 MPa for wrought AZ31. The pure metal matters where chemistry, not strength, decides the use: as the reducing metal for titanium (Kroll process), as a pyrotechnic and flare fuel, and as an anode material under research for magnesium-ion batteries. Most magnesium sold for structures is an alloy, such as the AZ31B covered in its own profile.'
uses:
- where: Electronics housings
line: Goodfellow says a typical magnesium laptop shell weighs 30 to 40 percent less than an equivalent aluminium die-cast housing. The page's example is for magnesium alloys, not the pure metal.
- where: Titanium and zirconium production
line: Goodfellow says high-purity ingot of 99.8% or more is used in the Kroll process, which reduces titanium tetrachloride with magnesium in a sealed reactor.
- where: Magnesium-ion battery research
line: Goodfellow calls magnesium an emerging anode material for next-generation magnesium-ion batteries. The sources read do not show a commercial cell.
can_do:
- label: Weight
value: 1.74 g/cm3
line: Density is 1.74 g/cm3 at 20 degC (Goodfellow), and 1.738 g/cm3 at 20 degC in the Merck Index value that PubChem quotes.
benchmark: density
- label: Melting
value: 650 degC
line: Melting point is 650 degC (923 K) on the Goodfellow page. The metal must be melted under a cover gas, because molten magnesium ignites readily in air.
benchmark: melting_point
- label: Heat conduction
value: 156 W/m·K
line: Thermal conductivity is 156 W/m·K on the Goodfellow page, at a temperature the page does not state.
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
- label: Strength
value: 140 to 160 MPa tensile
line: Annealed pure magnesium is printed at 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength on the Goodfellow page. The same row gives 180 to 350 MPa for alloys.
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
compare: Against its own alloy AZ31B, pure magnesium is less strong and more conductive. The Goodfellow page gives 140 to 160 MPa tensile strength for annealed pure metal and 260 MPa for wrought AZ31, and gives thermal conductivity of 156 W/m·K for pure magnesium. AZ31B is about 3 wt% aluminium and 1 wt% zinc, with magnesium as the balance (AircraftMaterials data sheet). Pure magnesium does not carry those additions, and its corrosion behaviour is set by the bare metal. The sources read do not give a corrosion rate for pure magnesium, so the corrosion comparison is qualitative.
compare_rows:
- label: Density
benchmark: density
- label: Tensile strength
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
- label: Thermal conductivity
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
handling:
- Keep the metal dry. PubChem gives H261 (flammable gas on contact with water) in 44.8% of its reports for magnesium metal.
- Keep dry sand, dry graphite or Met-L-X powder for a fire. Water and carbon dioxide cannot be used.
- Keep powder away from oxidisers, nitric acid and perchlorates.
- Melt and cast under a cover gas such as SF6 or CO2/SO2.
good_for:
- Titanium and zirconium reduction. Goodfellow sells 99.8% or higher ingot for the Kroll process.
- Light metal where the pure metal is wanted for research on magnesium chemistry or magnesium-ion anodes.
watch_out:
- Fire. Ribbon ignites at about 650 degC and turnings at about 473 degC, and water and carbon dioxide do not put out the fire.
- Chloride and galvanic contact. The Goodfellow page says galvanic corrosion with aluminium, steel or copper is severe unless parts are isolated.
- Strength. Annealed pure metal is 140 to 160 MPa in tension, well below the 260 MPa printed for wrought AZ31.
verdict: Pure magnesium is the lightest common metal and the usual reducing metal for titanium, but it is a weak, reactive metal in its bare form. For structures, use an alloy such as AZ31B with protection; use the pure metal where its chemistry is the point.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.