10266. Magnalium

Nomenclature

CAS number: 147413-41-0 (50:50); 51542-71-3 (70:30)
Aluminum alloy, base, Al,Mg (Magnalium); magnesium-aluminum alloy, aluminum base.

Description and references

Alloy of aluminum with 2-50% magnesium. Description: Eng. News 1908, 13. Glitter effects in pyrotechnics: T. Shimizu, Pyrotechnica 14, 21 (1992); as blue strobe producer: C. Jennings-White, ibid. 33. Potential use in fuel-air explosives: F. Ryan, J. Pyrotech. 4, 25 (1996); as solid rocket propellant: H. Habu et al., 32nd Int. Ann. Conf. ICT - Energetic Materials (Fraunhofer Inst. Chem. Technol., 2001) p 7/1-7/11. Mechanism of noise-producing reactions with lead oxides: T. Shimizu, Pyrotechnica 13, 10 (1990). Safety of fireworks compositions: idem, Proc. 26th Int. Pyrotech. Semin. 26, 481 (1999).

Properties

Pyrophoric at particle sizes <1 μm.

Use

Alloys with high Mg content (≈50%) are used in fireworks as a color intensifier and for production of noise and sparks; as solid rocket propellant. Alloys with low Mg content (2-10%) are used in aircraft, automotive, and instrument parts.