3.2.3 Steel desulfurization

Sulfur (0.025–0.03% S) is damaging to steel and causes brittleness. Hence, desulfurization of steel is done by exploiting the high affinity exhibited by


#### Table 2. Miscellaneous applications of magnesium-based materials.

efficiency, magnesium is strongly emerging in weight-critical structural applications such as in the automobile, aerospace, space, and defense sectors. Further, as magnesium is light, recyclable, an excellent dampener, and an efficient electromagnetic shielder, it finds a remarkable place in the electronic industry. In addition, with its biodegradability and nontoxicity coupled with its low elastic modulus, almost matching that of the bone, it is a potential material as a nonpermanent implant in the human body. It is also an extremely important element used in several other applications such as alloying element to Al, refining of Ti, desulfurization of steel, fire starter, etc. Thus, magnesium is a potentially a very important

eco-friendly metal that is opening multibillion dollar markets in many

Introductory Chapter: An Insight into Fascinating Potential of Magnesium

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90866

\*

1 School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore,

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

industrial sectors.

Author details

University, Singapore

Singapore

7

Sravya Tekumalla<sup>1</sup> and Manoj Gupta<sup>2</sup>

\*Address all correspondence to: mpegm@nus.edu.sg

provided the original work is properly cited.

#### Figure 3.

Miscellaneous applications of magnesium in (a) nodularizing iron (image taken from [42]); (b) anodes, a steel wide-beam canal barge showing a newly blacked hull is protected with the help of new magnesium anodes (image taken from [43]); (c) fire starter, shavings, sharpener, and ribbons (image taken from [44]); (d) desulfurization of steel (image reproduced from [45]); (e) new generation fast magnesium-ion solid-state electrolyte batteries (image taken from [46]); and (f) flameless ration heater (image taken from [47]).

magnesium to sulfur. It is the third largest use of Mg in a nonstructural market. Magnesium is added to molten iron or steel which helps in reacting with sulfur and reduces the sulfur in the steel [32].

### 3.2.4 Iron nodularization

For nodularizing cast iron, magnesium is used to produce spheroidal graphite cast iron or nodular cast iron. The addition of magnesium to cast material assists in the formation of nodules instead of flakes resulting in improved ductility. Typically, nodular cast iron is used in several components in automotive sector and pipes [33].

### 3.2.5 Photoengraving

Printing industry uses wrought (plates) of magnesium alloys for photoengraving. This is because Mg etches rapidly, hence creating a sharp impression. Further, it also creates less hazardous by-products as compared to alternative metals [34].

### 3.3 Miscellaneous applications

Table 2 and Figure 3 list minor applications where magnesium is currently/can be potentially employed.

## 4. Concluding remarks

In this introductory chapter, a snapshot on the diverse and multidimensional properties and capabilities of magnesium is introduced. In view of the environmental conservation and lightweighting, and to improve the fuel and cost

### Introductory Chapter: An Insight into Fascinating Potential of Magnesium DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90866

efficiency, magnesium is strongly emerging in weight-critical structural applications such as in the automobile, aerospace, space, and defense sectors. Further, as magnesium is light, recyclable, an excellent dampener, and an efficient electromagnetic shielder, it finds a remarkable place in the electronic industry. In addition, with its biodegradability and nontoxicity coupled with its low elastic modulus, almost matching that of the bone, it is a potential material as a nonpermanent implant in the human body. It is also an extremely important element used in several other applications such as alloying element to Al, refining of Ti, desulfurization of steel, fire starter, etc. Thus, magnesium is a potentially a very important eco-friendly metal that is opening multibillion dollar markets in many industrial sectors.
