Magnesium is at a crossroads: An industrial metal or a technology metal?

Abstract

Magnesium is at a crossroads, facing significant opportunities and challenges. On one hand, its unique properties - such as low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, and excellent castability - position it as a key material for lightweighting in automotive [1,2], aerospace [3,4], and consumer electronics [4,5]. On the other hand, challenges such as limited corrosion resistance, poor formability at room temperature, and a reliance on energy-intensive extraction processes impede its widespread adoption. Despite the steady increase of magnesium research and production in the last three decades, its growth in recent years has stalled in almost all regions of the world.