Preface

Magnesium alloys with their unique physical and chemical properties are impor‐ tant candidates for many modern engineering applications. Their density, being the lowest of all structural metals, makes them the primary choice in global at‐ tempts aimed at reducing the weight of transportation vehicles. Although it is not often emphasized, magnesium also creates challenges at certain stages of raw alloy melting, fabrication of net-shape components and their service. The first one is caused by very high affinity of magnesium to oxygen, which requires protective atmospheres increasing manufacturing cost and heavily contributing to green‐ house gas emissions. Another drawback is its relatively poor corrosion resistance in aqueous solutions and a susceptibility to galvanic corrosion, limiting many out‐ door applications. A completely different challenge is caused by very high corro‐ sivity of liquid magnesium towards materials it contacts, complicating processing of raw alloys and many manufacturing operations. Unfortunately, these draw‐ backs frequently overshadow the unique properties of magnesium including its high strength-to-weight ratio.

This book, created by contributions from experts in different fields of materials sci‐ ence, offers an overview of selected properties of magnesium and a variety of its alloys in solid and liquid states. Chapter 1 covers strengthening of alloys and fun‐ damentals of plastic deformation, in particular an influence of solute atoms on de‐ formation behavior of selected chemical combinations. The subject of mechanical properties is continued in chapter 2, emphasizing crystallographic texture, micro‐ structure and mechanical properties of calcium-containing flame resistant magne‐ sium alloy sheet, produced by twin roll casting and sequential warm rolling. This chapter provides a connection between bulk formability and surface reactivity of magnesium alloys. The essence of corrosion of magnesium in aqueous solutions is described in chapter 3, along with modern methods of surface engineering to build a barrier between the metallic surface and an active environment. As an extension of corrosion behavior, chapter 4 describes corrosion of magnesium alloys in indus‐ trial solutions, factors controlling corrosion reactions and modification of a solu‐ tion chemistry to inhibit the reaction progress. While previous chapters consider corrosion of magnesium, the last chapter, 5, focusses on the opposite property of magnesium: its corrosivity in liquid state in regards to metallic and ceramic materi‐ als it contacts. As emphasized there, the corrosive attack of molten magnesium al‐ loys imposes a challenge on the selection of materials applicable for hardware used for their processing. Each chapter contains a rich selection of references, useful for further reading.

A mixture of unique benefits and serious challenges of magnesium alloys in solid and liquid states, described in the book, makes it very useful for a broad audience of scientists and engineers from academia and industry. It is clear that in order to benefit from opportunities created by magnesium, its all characteristics should be fully understood. I hope that the book will contribute to progress in this under‐ standing and attract an audience from all fields of metallurgy not only to generate the genuine research interest but also to create new application opportunities for magnesium and its alloys.

> **Frank Czerwinski** CanmetMATERIALS, Natural Resources Canada

> > Canada

Hamilton, Ontario

**Section 1**

**Magnesium Alloys**

A mixture of unique benefits and serious challenges of magnesium alloys in solid and liquid states, described in the book, makes it very useful for a broad audience of scientists and engineers from academia and industry. It is clear that in order to benefit from opportunities created by magnesium, its all characteristics should be fully understood. I hope that the book will contribute to progress in this under‐ standing and attract an audience from all fields of metallurgy not only to generate the genuine research interest but also to create new application opportunities for

**Frank Czerwinski**

Hamilton, Ontario

Canada

CanmetMATERIALS, Natural Resources Canada

magnesium and its alloys.

VIII Preface
