The Promise of Magnesium Based Materials

Abstract Magnesium based materials including traditional alloys, new alloys and composites (nano/metastable and syntactic) have strong potential to be used in the aerospace sector. With the rich history of usage of magnesium in aerospace sector from the Second World War onwards, it is hard to imagine why our current researchers and industrialists are still paranoid to harness the full potential of the lightest and one of the most nutritional, natural elements. Accordingly, this paper highlights the use of magnesium based materials in the aerospace sector (commercial aircraft, fighter jets, and helicopters) in the past and present. Potential future applications of magnesium are discussed. New family of magnesium based materials particularly composites are introduced along with future challenges that include joining method (friction stir welding) and combating corrosion