Search Results

A method for refining magnesium scrap which produces consistent, high quality magnesium metal has been developed. High quality magnesium metal is defined in this paper as metal which has heavy metal contaminants controlled within high-purity ASTM chemical specification, and is relatively free of internal impurities such as non-metallic inclusions (oxides and flux) and dissolved gas. The refining process utilizes a protective gas atmosphere, inert gas sparging and filtration techniques, rather than salt based fluxes, to remove both non-metallic inclusions and dissolved gases. Experimentation results of this refining process indicate magnesium scrap can be remelted and refined to a quality equal to or better than virgin ingot, without the introduction of salt based fluxes or a large capital investment.

Safe handling of magnesium alloys in the high volume die cast production plant is an integral part of the overall manufacturing process. There are inherent problems involved with handling molten metals and handling molten magnesium alloys is no different. The risks must be identified and managed through proper procedure and employee training. Proper handling practices as related to employee and equipment safety will be discussed along with procedures for handling emergency situations.