1. Overview of magnesium alloys and heat treatments

Like zinc, magnesium is mainly used in the treatment of cast iron and as an additive in aluminum alloys. Magnesium alloys have two main limitations:

• their strong affinity for oxygen which, under extreme conditions (in the liquid state), can lead to their ignition (magnesium fire);

• their corrodibility, one of their applications is the production of sacrificial anodes.

They are used for their low density and "good heat resistance". They can be shaped by all molding processes (shell, sand, lost-wax and die-casting), as well as by solid-state deformation.