Which elements are commonly added to magnesium alloys?

Magnesium is rarely used in its pure form for structural applications because it lacks sufficient strength; instead, it is alloyed with other elements to enhance its mechanical properties, such as hardness, tensile strength, and ease of fabrication.12

Commonly added elements include:

• Aluminum, Zinc, and Manganese: These are the primary components of general-purpose magnesium alloys, typically containing 3–9 percent aluminum, 0.5–3 percent zinc, and approximately 0.2 percent manganese.12
• Specialized Alloying Elements: For applications requiring performance at higher temperatures (up to approximately 250 °C), alloys may incorporate zinc, zirconium, thorium, silver, yttrium, and other rare-earth elements.1
• Zirconium: This element is also used as an alloying agent in the production of certain magnesium alloys.3

Additionally, high-purity magnesium alloys are produced by strictly limiting the content of elements such as iron, nickel, and copper to improve corrosion resistance.1