Magnesium and its alloys have many attractive properties, of which low density, high specific strength and good castability are the most important. Poor corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys in some environments has been the main obstacle for further application of these alloys. Significant advances have been made in the last decades towards understanding the corrosion mechanisms of magnesium and its alloys and in the development of new alloys, as well as new surface treatments and coatings. As the mass saving potential of magnesium is considerable, the annual growth of magnesium consumption over the last decade has been 15%. This growth is predicted to continue at a rate of at least 12% for the next ten years. A key element in this development is increased understanding of the corrosion mechanisms of magnesium alloys, as well as further development of more corrosion resistant alloys and new and improved surface treatments and coatings.
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