Busting the Magnesium Fire Myth
There are concerns about the use of materials in fireworks (magnesium) to make lighter parts for cars, sports equipment, medicines, etc. Yes, magnesium reacts to fire with very bright and very high heat. This can also have an explosive reaction with water. The explosive nature of metals naturally has given magnesium alloys an erroneous reputation for explosion when used in cars or aerospace equipment. Engine parts made of magnesium alloys have been the most unfortunate, as engines are known to get extremely hot from normal operation.
How NOT to start a magnesium fire
The high heat from the engine is also a concern for car buyers. As the engine runs, it reaches very high temperatures. Dust and shavings from the magnesium cast block can potentially ignite in such an environment. However, the cooling systems built into the cars using the magnesium engines prevent the high heat from becoming an issue. … READ MORE >>>