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Magnesium Alloys: The Lightest Structural Metals
Magnesium Alloys: The Lightest Structural Metals
Magnesium alloys combine ultra-low density with excellent strength-to-weight ratios, making them indispensable for lightweight design in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical applications.
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
Magnesium: The Lightest Structural Metal for Advanced Additive Manufacturing
Introduction
Magnesium (Mg) is the lightest structural metal, with a density about one-quarter that of steel and two-thirds that of aluminium. This makes it ideal for industries where weight reduction translates directly into efficiency, such as aerospace, automotive, and energy storage. In addition, magnesium alloys demonstrate biocompatibility and biodegradability, enabling their use in medical implants and devices that naturally resorb in the body.
By alloying magnesium with elements such as aluminium, zinc, rare earths, or calcium, engineers can tailor mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and creep performance. Popular alloys like AZ91 (Mg-Al-Zn) and ZK60 (Mg-Zn-Zr) are widely used in automotive and aerospace, while Mg-Ca and Mg-Zn alloys are being developed for next-generation biodegradable implants. In powder form, magnesium alloys enable additive manufacturing and advanced coatings, supporting design freedom in both structural and biomedical engineering.
Magnesium (Mg) is the lightest structural metal, with a density about onequarter that of steel and two-thirds that of aluminium. This makes it ideal for industries where weight reduction translates directly into efficiency, such as aerospace, automotive, and energy storage. In addition, magnesium alloys demonstrate biocompatibility and biodegradability, enabling their use in medical implants and devices that naturally resorb in the body.
By alloying magnesium with elements such as aluminium, zinc, rare earths, or calcium, engineers can tailor mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and creep performance. Popular alloys like AZ91 (Mg-Al-Zn) and ZK60 (Mg-Zn-Zr) are widely used in automotive and aerospace, while Mg-Ca and Mg-Zn alloys are being developed for next-generation biodegradable implants. In powder form, magnesium alloys enable additive manufacturing and advanced coatings, supporting design freedom in both structural and biomedical engineering.
METAL AM
Challenges in Sourcing Magnesium Alloy Powders
Despite their unique properties, magnesium powders present obstacles in supply, handling, and customization.
While magnesium alloys are commercially produced, their availability in highquality powder form for advanced applications is far more limited. Key issues include:
01
Reactivity and Safety
Magnesium powders are highly flammable and require careful production, storage, and handling.
02
Reactivity and Safety
Suppliers typically focus on bulk alloys (AZ91, ZK60), with little flexibility for novel biomedical or high-performance compositions.
03
Limited Alloy Options
Powder suppliers often require large quantities, creating barriers for researchers who only need grams or kilograms.
04
Slow Delivery Times
Requests for specialized Mg alloy powders frequently face long lead times, slowing down R&D cycles.
These challenges restrict progress in lightweight structures, additive manufacturing, and biodegradable implant research, where flexibility and small-scale access are essential.
These challenges restrict progress in lightweight structures, additive manufacturing, and biodegradable implant research, where flexibility and small-scale access are essential.
AMAZEMET
Expanding Access to Tailored Magnesium Alloy Powders
Through specialty suppliers and in-house production, researchers can obtain magnesium powders tailored to their specific applications.
Two clear pathways are available to overcome magnesium powder challenges:
- Specialty Powder Providers: Advanced suppliers can produce small-batch Mg and Mg-alloy powders with controlled particle sizes and tailored compositions for aerospace or biomedical applications.
- In-House Atomization: With technologies like rePOWDER, it is possible to produce magnesium alloy powders on-site, adjusting compositions, passivation and processing conditions to match project requirements. This ensures both safety and flexibility while reducing dependency on external supply chains.
Both strategies empower teams to accelerate research and explore magnesium’s role in
METAL POWDERS PRODUCTION
Expanding Access to Tailored Magnesium Alloy Powders
Through specialty suppliers and in-house production, researchers can obtain magnesium powders tailored to their specific applications.
Two clear pathways are available to overcome magnesium powder challenges:
Custom Mg-alloy powders
including modification of commercial alloys and experimental systems such as Mg-Li or Mg-Ca and Mg-Zn for biomedical applications.
Research-scale volumes
from grams for laboratory trials to kilograms for pilot production.
High-quality atomized powders
optimized for additive manufacturing and safe handling. By bridging the gap between commodity powders and specialized project requirements, we enable teams to explore magnesium’s full potential in both structural and biomedical applications.
AMAZEMET SERVICES & REPOWDER
AMAZEMET Services & rePOWDER: Magnesium Alloy Development
From tailored powders to on-site atomization, AMAZEMET provides comprehensive solutions for magnesium alloys.
1. Custom Powder Production Services (Small Batches):
- Tailored compositions for aerospace, automotive, or medical use.
- Precise volumes suited to small-scale R&D and prototyping.
- Fast turnaround, compared to conventional suppliers.
2. rePOWDER Atomizer for In-House Development:
- Designed for challenging metals like magnesium
- Control over alloy design, from Mg-Li structural alloys to Mg-Ca biomedical systems.
- Confidential, in-house production, ensuring IP protection and rapid iteration.
BOOST YOUR PROJECT WITH AMAZEMET
Whether you aim to reduce weight in aerospace or pioneer biodegradable implants, AMAZEMET supports your magnesium alloy research and production goals.
