About Magnesium

Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12 and common oxidation number +2.  It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust by mass.  Its density is 1.78g/cc, the lightest of all structural metals.

One of the special properties of Mg is the damping capacity, about 4 times that of Al and 2 times that of steel, which bodes well for noise and vibration reduction of rotating parts.  The bending rigidity and torsional stiffness of Mg are advantageous in aerodynamic applications.  The dent resistance and crash resistance of Mg over Al and steel is surprising, but utile for resisting impact damage and failure - and  for absorbing energy of such impact.  Compared to other structural metals, magnesium is easy to machine.

Light weight Mg sheet would be in high demand in the automobile, aerospace, truck/trailer, battery, military, and electronic/communication markets were it not for two factors, 1) high cost, and 2) poor formability.  If cost could be reduced and if formability could be enhanced, the aforementioned markets could enjoy the benefits of lightweight Mg on fuel economy and reduction of pollutants.

Enter nanoMAG

The key to our product is the novel Thixomolding® Thermal-Mechanical Process (TTMP).  The process creates isotropic fine-grained strengthening on the nanometer scale.  The secret is our ability to control the microstructure of the material.  Control of the microstructure has increased the yield of strength of the original Thixomolded stock by more than 90% to more than 300 MPa along with 10% elongation.