Breakthroughs in magnesium alloy research and production lead to early release of magnesium market demand and rising wait-and-see sentiment [SMM survey]

According to the latest survey data from SMM, the magnesium market this week has witnessed the following international developments and changes in trade flows:

US Research Captures 3D Image of Magnesium Alloy "Twinning" Structure for the First Time, Aiding Lightweight Material Optimization

Researchers at the University of Michigan in the US have, for the first time, captured a 3D view of the formation of "deformation twins" in lightweight magnesium alloys using powerful X-ray technology. The findings, published in the journal Science, were funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Magnesium alloys are 30% lighter than aluminum and are currently only used in non-load-bearing automotive components. Their crystal structure allows atoms to slide in only a few directions, forming mirror-image "deformation twins" under tension to increase ductility, but excessive twins can lead to cracks. The study found that twins form at triple junctions, with defects appearing where twins contact other crystals. The team selected specific grains using a miniature CT scanner and utilized dark-field X-ray microscopy at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France to observe twin evolution in real-time for the first time after applying three typical automotive component loads. The next step is to capture changes in real-time. Institutions such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility also participated in the research.

The breakthrough in this study lies not only in the first 3D visualization of "deformation twins" in magnesium alloys but also in revealing the laws of their formation and defect generation, laying a crucial foundation for optimizing magnesium alloy performance and expanding its applications in fields such as automotive, with the potential to drive the automotive lightweighting process and have significant practical implications for improving fuel efficiency and reducing costs.

Vietnam Achieves Breakthrough in Coated Steel Technology, Mass-Produces Zinc-Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy Products

Hoa Sen Group in Vietnam recently successfully produced the first batch of zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy-coated steel coils at its Nghe An factory, branding them as "Hoa Sen mag shield." This achievement marks a significant technological breakthrough in Vietnam's coated steel industry. The product uses high-grade steel as the base material and adopts an advanced continuous hot-dipping process to precisely blend zinc, aluminum, and magnesium components. Its corrosion resistance is 3 to 5 times that of traditional galvanized steel, and the coating hardness is doubled, providing both durability and aesthetics even in harsh environments, suitable for major national projects and international standard engineering. Notably, the magnesium component imparts a self-repairing mechanism to the product, forming a protective layer at cut edges or drilled holes during installation, outperforming ordinary coated steel. The product complies with multiple international standards such as JIS and ASTM, with a warranty period of up to 50 years. Nguyen Minh Phuc, Deputy General Manager of Hoa Sen Group, stated that this is not just a new product but also a symbol of the upgrading of Vietnam's coated steel industry.

This mass production fills the technological gap in Vietnam's high-end coated steel. With the unique advantages brought by the magnesium component, the product is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's steel in the international market while providing more durable and environmentally friendly material options for local and global engineering projects.

Magnesium powder demand boosts trading activity; overseas weakness and price inversion trigger cautious sentiment among all parties

According to SMM, magnesium powder demand stood out last week, with traders actively entering the market to make purchases. Trading activity heated up in the second half of the week. As a result, the production site inventory of primary magnesium across the country declined significantly, down 10.6% MoM. However, this week, the social inventory of magnesium ingots increased by 2.18% MoM. Overseas market demand remained weak, and after the FOB tender price was announced in the Japanese market, there have been few actual overseas transactions recently. Affected by the increase in ex-factory prices and insufficient demand follow-up, buyers generally adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Moreover, with the approaching summer break in Japan and South Korea in August, end-user orders further decreased. Traders are currently focusing on fulfilling June orders, and spot purchases have incurred losses due to price inversion. Recently, with the increase in prices, the FOB quotation range has tightened again to $2,410-2,440/mt. On the one hand, this is because traders' bearish sentiment has weakened, and they are no longer engaging in "rat race" competition in quoting prices. On the other hand, influenced by the recent slight increase in the US dollar exchange rate, the market has developed a fear of low prices, and quotations have become more cautious, with downstream buyers continuing to wait and see.