Magnesium alloy is called "green environmental protection structural material in the 21st century", has very good application performance, is currently the lightest metal structural material, with high specific strength, large specific rigidity, good shock absorption, and ability to withstand impact load Strong, excellent electromagnetic shielding performance, no biological toxicity, good corrosion resistance to organics and alkalis, and abundant resources. With the continuous improvement of processing technology, the application range of magnesium alloys has expanded rapidly, and the market demand has continued to increase. The rapid development of the magnesium alloy strategic industry is of great significance to the development of China's national economy and national defense technology industry.
China's magnesium land resources account for about 35% of the world's total proven reserves, ranking first in the world, with abundance reaching more than 500 years. Among them, the total amount of magnesite resources is 3.145 billion tons, and the primary and secondary mines that meet the requirements of magnesium smelting account for 78%; the proven reserves of dolomite resources are about 4 billion tons. In 2019, the global production and sales of primary magnesium is 1 million tons, China's is 844,800 tons, accounting for 85% of the world, and the rest is Russia, Kazakhstan, Israel and other small output. Domestic production is mainly distributed in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Ningxia and other places, including 517,600 tons in Shaanxi, 117,100 tons in Shanxi, and 58,500 tons in Ningxia. At present, about 45% of the world's raw magnesium is used to produce magnesium alloys, 70% of which is used in the automotive industry, and the remaining 20% and 10% are used in the fields of 3C and military, construction materials and flying aircraft.
The application field is rapidly expanding and the market prospect is very broad
In the field of transportation equipment: First, in automotive applications, under the premise of using the same power and transmission system, the lightweight of automotive wheels, covers, engine cases, battery compartments and other components is the largest incremental market for magnesium alloys. . According to the statistics of Volkswagen in Germany, every 10% reduction in vehicle weight can save 5% of fuel. For every 10 kg of magnesium alloy, the car can lose about 4 kg; for every 100 kg of dead weight, fuel consumption can be reduced by 0.7 liters per 100 kilometers; One liter of fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 grams and annual emissions by more than 30%. Looking to the future, the amount of magnesium alloys used in automobiles may usher in a blowout growth. Second, in terms of rail transit, as long as rail transit reduces the weight of the car body, the train can increase the payload and run faster. In 2020, China's urban rail transit mileage will reach more than 4,500 kilometers, and major cities are revising and increasing urban rail transit plans. Chengdu's planned urban rail transit mileage in 2035 will reach 4,500 kilometers. It will also become inevitable to use a large amount of magnesium alloy materials for rail cars.
In the fields of 3C electronic products, military industry, and building materials: metal magnesium plates and strips have begun to be used in mid-to-high-end ultra-thin or small-sized notebook shells. Engineering plastics and carbon fiber cannot compare with this. Magnesium alloy materials are now The first choice for portable laptop shells. In addition, there are shielding layers for electronic products, and ultra-thin metal magnesium plates (foil) also tend to use magnesium alloys. The new generation of mobile communication products make extensive use of hollowed-out magnesium alloy frames. In terms of 4G and 5G communication base station radiators, there is at least more than 50 billion yuan in domestic market demand. In the field of military industry, magnesium alloys have also been used in batches in portable portable communication equipment, light weapon systems, individual weapons and intelligent helmets, military vehicle hanging outer decks, and shoulder-mounted missile and rocket shells. In the field of wall decoration, especially in high-rise and super high-rise buildings, lightweight magnesium alloy formwork has also begun to be widely used.
In the field of flying aircraft and so on: In addition to the internal support frame in the aircraft structure, the skin, floor, deck, etc. are most suitable for the use of wide magnesium alloy sheets. Test results have shown that the economic benefits of aircraft weight reduction of 0.45 kg are $ 300 for commercial aircraft, $ 3,000 for fighter aircraft, and $ 30,000 for spacecraft. The overall weight reduction effect is 25% -35% higher than aluminum alloy. European Airbus has developed magnesium alloy plates as early as the last century, and the weight reduction effect is far more significant than that of using aluminum alloys. China's Xifei and Chengfei have used magnesium alloy forgings, castings and plates early in the body. In the fields of civil aviation, general aviation, and commercial aerospace, magnesium alloys will become more effective in the future.
Go all out to make the magnesium alloy industry bigger and stronger
At present, the trend of the world's magnesium metal industry is that Western countries have almost completely reduced the production of raw magnesium, but China continues to increase production. Although China has become the world's largest producer and exporter of primary magnesium for 18 consecutive years since 2003 due to its rich resources and low cost, it is a typical “giant” in the production of raw magnesium and a “dwarf” in magnesium alloy production. . To make full use of the absolute advantages of China's raw magnesium output in the world, plan the overall layout of the raw magnesium smelting and magnesium alloy high-end product processing industry from a high starting point, pay close attention to the introduction of foreign magnesium alloy research and development of high-end technology and advanced processing equipment, based on Shaanxi raw magnesium output Advantage, realize the upgrade of local high-end manufacturing of magnesium alloys, replace imports as soon as possible, and strive to build a strategic industrial base of magnesium alloys in China in a relatively short period of time.
In recent years, Shaanxi`s Fugu and Shenmu have used by-products from the production of blue charcoal—barren gas as raw magnesium to produce fuel, forming a unique low-cost depression for smelting metal magnesium and building coal chemical and organic magnesium production organics. Combined with the circular economy industrial chain model, the production and export of raw magnesium have increased year after year, ranking first in the country and first in the world. Among them, the output of Fugu in 2019 is 433,300 tons and that of Shenmu is 84,300 tons. The total output accounts for 62% of the country and 52% of the world. Last year, domestic sales of magnesium metal accounted for 49%, and the average annual growth rate of domestic magnesium consumption in the next 10 years will be more than 20%. China, as the world's largest country in the production of raw magnesium, should seize the strategic opportunities arising from the global application of magnesium alloys, and make every effort to enlarge and strengthen the magnesium alloy industry.
The first: is to encourage the processing and manufacturing of high-performance magnesium alloys in the industry catalog. Incorporate magnesium resources, raw magnesium ingots and magnesium alloys into the country's important resource strategy, material strategy and industrial strategy, increase investment in magnesium alloy research and development, expand the application of magnesium alloy products, work together to develop the magnesium alloy industry, and change the magnesium alloy as soon as possible High-end manufacturing is subject to the passive situation of people, and further accelerate the application of magnesium alloy lightweight materials in the fields of transportation equipment, 3C electronic products and military industry, construction materials and flying aircraft.
The second: is to view the urgency and importance of developing China's strategic industry of magnesium metal from a global perspective. Some raw magnesium smelting projects in Shaanxi, Shanxi, etc. that still have some pollution and the production capacity is still relatively low should continue to be included in the encouragement category. Vigorously provide the technology and capital required for transformation and upgrading, especially in environmental protection law enforcement should not be "one size fits all" "hard and cold" to prevent indirect evacuation of the development cornerstone of this strategic emerging industry.
The third: is to support Shaanxi to create a world-class magnesium metal industrial park. The relevant state departments should work with Shaanxi Province to do a good job in the planning and construction of this strategic industry. It should support and help Shaanxi to form a magnesium industry group with a complete industrial chain, leading processing technology and outstanding product advantages, accelerate the introduction of foreign high-end magnesium alloy equipment, occupy the commanding heights of magnesium alloy deep processing technology, and advance to the world level of magnesium alloy industry at full speed.
The fourth: is to build the "National Magnesium and Magnesium Alloy Technology R & D and Product Manufacturing Center". The strategic industry of magnesium alloys is a high-end technology and heavy asset project. It has huge investments, involves a wide range of departments, and has a long profit cycle. It needs to be jointly promoted by the national level and Shaanxi Province. Become a national high-end magnesium alloy production base and application promotion demonstration base, promote China to control the pricing power of the international metal magnesium market, and change the importing country of high-end magnesium alloy products into exporters.