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Basic Element
Magnesium ribbon is made from pure magnesium, a silvery-gray metal and one of the most readily available metal elements within the Earth's crust. It is derived from the name of Magnesia, a region in Thessaly, Greece. Pure magnesium is a highly flammable metal in ribbon form and explosive in powder state. Water and molten or burning magnesium react violently with each other. Magnesium ignites in the presence of carbon dioxide, melts at 650OC and boils at 1,103OC. It maintains a tightly packed hexagonal crystal structure. Magnesium is also found within the human body in minute amounts.
Characteristics
Solid magnesium ribbon is odorless and silvery white; air and moisture corrode it. Chips, shavings or thin sheets of it produce intense heat and light when ignited, so working with magnesium ribbon requires appropriate protective clothing and gear. Burning magnesium ribbon produces magnesium oxide, and causes chills, nausea, shortness of breath, fever and malaise when inhaled. Magnesium ribbon processing irritates the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract. Anyone handling this material -- particularly those with chronic skin rashes, lung deficiencies and asthma -- should take extra precautionary measures, such as wearing self-contained breathing gear and appropriate eye protection.
Processing
Magnesium ribbon is generally carved from larger pure magnesium metal blocks. Ball milling is a dangerous, though practicable, method of forming ribbons from pure metal, as it can cause spontaneous ignition. Producing magnesium ribbon can also be done by cutting or filing. Other processing techniques involve silicothermic principles: Bolzano, Magnetherm and Pidgeon processes.
Electrolysis and sublimation is also used to process magnesium, although it can cause iron contamination and impure constitution. Electrolysis is the process where compounds are charged with a direct current to separate its elements, while sublimation is the process where a compound is subjected to heat so that it transforms from a solid state to a gas state without going through the liquid state.
Applications
In the past, the most common use for magnesium was in photography flash lights. Currently, magnesium ribbons are used in fireworks, combustion studies, chemical reaction catalysis, chemical and physical vapor deposition, automotive die and sand casting. In alloy with other elements, it's for corrosion protection and ballast tank descaling for boats, missile and satellite construction, fabrication, mechanical and welding capability enhancer for aluminum.
Some dietary supplements also contain pure magnesium, although in small amounts.Vegetables, such as spinach, also contain small amounts of magnesium. In this form, magnesium does not readily react with air and doesn't burn, thus avoiding the dangerous effects that it may have on humans.