The global magnesium ore resources are rich. Today, when many metals are becoming exhausted, it is of great strategic significance to accelerate the research and development and application of magnesium materials. Magnesium metal was discovered in the early 19th century. After that, under the promotion of research in the United States, China, Germany, Japan, Britain, Australia and other countries, the magnesium and magnesium alloy industry developed rapidly.

1. The early development of magnesium and magnesium alloys

In 1808, Sir Humphrey Davy, a British chemist, first produced metallic magnesium by fusion electrolysis. In 1828, French scientist A.A. Bussy used reduction to obtain pure magnesium from molten anhydrous magnesium chloride. In 1886, Germany established its first commercial electrolytic magnesium plant based on Bunsen's electrolytic cell, and the industrial production of magnesium alloys began in Germany. In 1910, the world's magnesium output was about 10 tons per year. In 1930, Germany used magnesium alloy 73.8Kg in automobiles for the first time. In 1935, the Soviet Union used magnesium alloy for aircraft production for the first time. German Volkswagen used die-cast magnesium alloy to produce "Beetle" automobile engine transmission system components. Birmingham, UK used magnesium alloy for the first time. When it comes to motorcycle gearbox housings, the world's magnesium output increased to more than 1,200 tons per year by 1930.

During World War II was the first period of rapid development of the magnesium industry. Starting in 1935, countries such as Germany, France, the Soviet Union, Austria, Italy, and the United States established magnesium plants, and the production capacity of magnesium increased sharply. During this period, magnesium was mainly used for manufacturing and combustion. Bullets, flares, tracers, signal flares and parts of military equipment. In 1943, the world's magnesium output reached 230,000 tons. However, after the end of World War II, the demand for magnesium decreased and the output dropped sharply. In 1946, the world's magnesium output dropped to only 25,000 tons/year, and the development of magnesium alloys entered a low tide. At this time, countries around the world began to consider the possibility of the development of magnesium alloys in the civilian industry, and the research and development of magnesium alloys gradually shifted to civilian use.

Until the 1990s, due to the further escalation of restrictions on automobile exhaust emissions, energy consumption, and noise in Europe and the United States, high requirements for weight reduction and improved fuel efficiency forced various automobile companies to develop magnesium alloys. Since then, governments around the world have attached great importance to the research and development of magnesium alloys. The United States, Japan, Germany, Australia and other countries have successively issued their own magnesium alloy research plans, taking magnesium as an important strategic material in the 21st century, and strengthening the use of magnesium alloys in computers. , Automotive, aerospace, communications and other fields of development and application. The MADICA (Magnesium Die Casting) Magnesium Alloy Research and Development Program was funded by the Federal Government in 1997 by the Federal Government. The main research is rapid prototyping and tool manufacturing technology, cutting processing technology, die-casting magnesium alloy technology, joining technology and semi-solid forming technology. And the application of magnesium alloys in automobiles, computers, aerospace and other fields has improved the application capabilities of magnesium alloys. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan also started funding the "Advanced Magnesium Alloy Science and Technology Program" project in 1999. The main research directions include: magnesium alloy structure control, magnesium alloy surface modification, magnesium alloy ecological technology and the development of new functional materials. Beginning in 1992, due to the rapid development of China's use of the Pidgeon method to smelt magnesium, the price of primary magnesium was reduced to a level equivalent to that of aluminum, prompting magnesium alloys to enter a second period of rapid development. Driven by the rise of magnesium prices in the international market, the construction reached a climax in 1995. With the continuous improvement and perfection of Pidgeon's magnesium smelting production process, China has gradually embarked on the road of magnesium industry in line with China's national conditions. Although magnesium prices fell in 1996, China's primary magnesium output has maintained a rapid growth momentum. my country's pure magnesium output increased from 5,300 tons in 1990 to 157,000 tons at the end of 1999. Major automotive companies in Europe and the United States and the electronics industry have invested a lot of manpower, material and financial resources in the research and development of magnesium alloy auto parts and consumer electronics housings, which has driven the development and application of magnesium alloys. The actual world output of magnesium in 2000 reached 430,000 tons, of which China's magnesium output reached 19.5 tons. At this time, most of the magnesium alloys developed and applied are die-cast magnesium alloys.

2. The development of magnesium alloys in the 21st century

Entering the 21st century, with the rapid development of the automobile industry, rail transit, aerospace and electronic product industries, as well as people’s pursuit of high-quality life, the demand for environmentally friendly, lightweight, and high-performance materials is increasing. Governments and magnesium alloy associations have successively proposed the development of new high-performance magnesium alloys, the development of new magnesium alloy production and processing technologies, and the production of diversified and multi-specification magnesium alloy products with high quality and stable performance to improve product yield and production efficiency , To promote the further industrial production and application process of magnesium alloy materials. The worldwide large-scale industrialization of magnesium alloys is gradually being realized, and the development of magnesium alloys has entered a new round of high-speed development.

In recent years, the cost and environmental factors restricting the development of the magnesium industry have been significantly improved. After the 2008 global financial crisis, the world's magnesium industry, dominated by China's magnesium industry, is one of the materials industries that are recovering quickly. In 2012, the production and consumption of the global magnesium industry have basically returned to the level before the financial crisis, but the cost and price have dropped significantly. The price of primary magnesium has been reduced to less than 50% of the price in 2007, and the energy consumption of the magnesium industry has been reduced. Pollution has also been drastically reduced. At the same time, since 2013, my country, as the world's largest magnesium producer, has cancelled the 10% export tariff on magnesium and magnesium alloys that has been implemented since 2008, which has directly led to a 10% reduction in the price of magnesium in the international market.

In recent years, my country's magnesium output and exports have ranked first in the world for many consecutive years. In 2017, my country's primary magnesium output has reached nearly 1 million tons, accounting for about 80% of the world's total output. For the first time, my country's domestic consumption of primary magnesium has exceeded exports. One of the important developments of my country's magnesium industry in recent years is that the Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium Industry's 100,000-ton magnesium integrated project has been fully completed, showing a good momentum of development. The successful commissioning of the project can alleviate to a certain extent the fluctuations in the price of Pidgeon's original magnesium caused by the price fluctuations of ferrosilicon.

In the past ten years, the application of magnesium alloys has increased substantially. According to preliminary statistics, the use of magnesium alloys has increased to about 400,000 tons. This shows that with the rapid development of magnesium alloy industry technology, magnesium alloy products have begun to gain recognition in more and more application fields. At the same time, the policy environment of the magnesium industry has gradually improved. Especially in 2016, Chinese national leaders inspected the Qinghai Salt Lake Metal Magnesium Integration Project, which will effectively guarantee and promote the healthy development of the magnesium industry from the national policy level. All these have created good cost conditions and environmental foundations for the sustainable development of the world's magnesium industry. The substantial increase in the market demand for magnesium alloys, the further development of magnesium industry technology and the further improvement of the industrial policy environment are expected to promote the magnesium industry from a million-ton level to over 5 million-ton level within 5-10 years.

3. Conclusion

From the discovery of metallic magnesium in the 19th century to today, magnesium alloys have developed into one of the potential metal materials in the 21st century. Magnesium alloys are becoming a strategic material of global concern. With the continuous emergence of new materials and technologies of magnesium alloys, magnesium alloys will play an increasingly important role in the economic and social development of the world today.