Trends in Usage of Magnesium. Report of the Panel on Trends in Usage of Magnesium of the Committee on Technical Aspects of Critical and Strategic Materials.

摘要

This study addressed three major questions: (1) How available is magnesium if wide-scale substitution is required. (2) How well can magnesium be converted to useful articles as a substitute. (3) How well will an article made of magnesium perform when compared with the same article made of another material. Magnesium is a relatively new member of the metals community and its low density orients it toward aluminum substitution. Concentration of the study was on comparisons of magnesium with aluminum. The Panel examined the present magnesium industry,its past history,and its probable future. Production costs for aluminum and magnesium were reviewed to determine whether the costs of producing either could be altered substantially. The economics of various fabrication processes for magnesium were examined to determine whether possible changes in fabricating techniques would change the relationship of the costs,and therefore prices,of finished parts made of magnesium vis-a-vis competitive materials. In considering future consumption of magnesium,particular attention was given to end-uses for magnesium and its alloys that appeared cost-effective.