Making friends with magnesium

The current use of magnesium components by North American automobile manufacturers is quantified and the metal's physical, mechanical and processing properties are analysed in the context of its potential to supplant steel, Factors that are contributing to the growth in magnesium use include the decreasing price of the metal and recent R&D activity in a number of countries. Nevertheless, the relatively small size of the industry is limiting efforts to overcome negative perceptions and to provide development support for component manufacturers to reduce the risks that they face in changing over to magnesium. aluminium and polymers further.