Technological Breakthroughs and Environmental Protection Controversies Move in Tandem Magnesium Co-production Project Opens New Pathways [SMM Survey]

According to the latest SMM survey, the magnesium market has shown the following international developments this week:

New Self-Healing Hydrophobic Coating Cracks Magnesium Alloy Corrosion Problem Aids Aerospace Applications

Recently, a research team successfully developed a self-healing hydrophobic coating based on PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) to address the insufficient corrosion resistance of magnesium alloy AZ31B. The coating, only 50 micrometers thick, incorporates Li₂CO₃ as a self-healing agent and exhibits an electrochemical impedance value of up to 10¹⁰Ω・cm² in a 3.5% sodium chloride solution, demonstrating excellent anti-corrosion performance. Experiments have shown that after damage, the coating can automatically generate a protective film of magnesium carbonate, effectively inhibiting the spread of corrosion, while also possessing both hydrophobic and self-healing properties. This breakthrough technology solves a key bottleneck for the application of magnesium alloys in harsh environments such as aerospace and automotive, and is expected to promote the industrialisation process of lightweight materials.

Settlement Talks Break Down Utah Plans to Terminate US Magnesium's Great Salt Lake Operating Lease

Due to the breakdown of settlement talks with US Magnesium (the only primary magnesium producer in the US), Utah plans to terminate the company’s operating lease at the Great Salt Lake. Previously, US Magnesium had been held accountable by state and federal agencies for halting the construction of a retaining wall to prevent toxic waste from magnesium production from entering the Great Salt Lake, failing to provide a $10.6 million environmental protection fund guarantee as per the 2021 settlement agreement with the EPA, and missing the deadline for constructing a magnesium-related wastewater filtration system. The company ceased magnesium production in September 2022, claiming “no detected migration of magnesium-related pollutants,” but did not respond to the accountability measures. The breakdown of the settlement talks directly triggered the state government's decision to terminate the lease.

Karnalyte Advances Potash-Magnesium Co-Production Project, Taps Potential of Key Clean Energy Materials

Karnalyte Resources continued to assess the development value of magnesium resources in its Wynyard potash project in Q2 2025. The company is studying the feasibility of co-producing magnesium chloride and potassium chloride from carnallite (potassium magnesium chloride) using advanced solution mining technology. As one of Canada's 34 critical minerals, magnesium holds significant strategic importance in clean energy technologies and high-end manufacturing. The company recently sold non-core farmland assets for C$1.408 million, with the proceeds to be used to support the development of this co-production project. Additionally, two new mining and energy experts were added to the board to provide strategic support for the project. If successfully implemented, this potash-magnesium co-production plan will significantly enhance the project's economic viability and tap into the rapidly growing green material supply chain.