754
MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1941


Aluminum Industries, Light Metals, Superior Bearing Bronze, Eclipse Aviation,
Weilman Bronze & Aluminum, and Springfield Bronze & Aluminum.'1 Advancements
also were made in the manufacture of permanent and semipermanent mold castings
and of die castings, sheet, strip, plate, extruded shapes, and forgings.
Companies that formerly fabricated other metals started manufacturing magnesium-alloy
products in 1941 and early 1942. Dow and American Magnesium remained the
only producers of sheet.
 Preliminary static tests were completed on a magnesium-alloy airplane wing
to determine its possible weight saving and general suitability for aircraft
construction.'2 Progress was made in 1941 on methods for combatting corrosion
of magnesium.'3 Numerous patents were issued on improved methods for producing,
treating, and protecting magnesium and its alloys. Studies were made on the
extinguishment and control of magnecium and incendiary-bomb fires ~ Care
of atmospheres and heat-treating methods for magnesium products became increasingly
important.'5 Demand increased during 1941 for high-puriI~y magnesium alloys
in which the iron, nickel, and copper impurities were removed—Dow metal
J—l, for extrusions, sheet, and forgings; 0—1, for extrusions
and* forgings; and FS—1, for sheet and extrusions These new alloys
ha~ e high corrosion resistance

WORLD PRODUCTION

 World production and consumption of magnesium in 1941 set a record. Most
of the-metal found its way into the manufacture of airplanes and incendiary
bombs. Of the world output, it is estimated that about 60 percent was under
Axis control and 40 percent under control of the Allied Nations.

Estimated world production of magnesium, 1937—41, by countries, ire
metric tons
Country
1937
1938
i939
1940
1941
Australia. - 

-    
- - - -. -

200
France~.                           
1.500
1.800
2.500
2.000
3.000
Germany - -      
12, 080
14, 100
16. 500
25,000
35,000
Italy                            
Japan -              Norway                          
 66
1,200
102
1,500
 
 300
2,000
500
 3.000
- -
2,500
5.000
 100
Switzerland - - - -
230
750
750
750
I, 000
U. S. S. TI -
500
500
1,000
1.500
4,000
United Kingdom                    
2, 000
2. 200
4 83!
6, 500
12,000
United States  Total                         
I 2039
2,918
3,039
5,680
14.780

19,600
23.900
30.900
44,900
77,600
 I Saks.

 II Phair, \V. A.. MaenesJ~tm Aircraft Castings: Iron Age, vol. 148, No.
8, Auzust 2!, i941, pp. 39-44. Briskin, N. M., Masnesitim Sand Castings:
Iron Age, vol. 148, No. 2, July 10, 1941. pp. 47-53. Cone, Edwin F., The
Ford Magnesium-Alloy Foundry: Metals and Alloys, vol. 15, No. 3, March 1942,
pp. 39er-402.
2 Conlon, Enierson W., and M'lthcs, John C., Preliminary Static Test of a
Magnesium-Alloy Wing:
Pres. at Ann. Mcetine, Inst. Aeronoutical Se!., January 28—30, 912.
(Preprint, 8 pp. and ilitis.)
 1* Hanawalt, J. D., Nelsen, C. E.. Pi,loubct, J. A.. (' orrosion Stu1ic~
of Magnesium and Its Alloys: Am. Inst. Mm. and Met. Em'. Tirh. P,ib. 1333,
April 1941, 2f1 PP.
 Schmidt, H. W'.. Finkhing Maencsiuin 1)9 (' asting~: Am. Soc. Test Mat..
vol. 4!, i941, pp. 15—22.
 0 Guise, Arthur B.. l'roteet np Industrtal Plants from 31 5gm-slum F'ircs:
(' hem, and Met. Eng., vol. 48, No. C. June 1911. pp. 83—87.
 Bureau of Mini's, 31i'l ho:ls of Extinguishing 3taenc~!umin Fires and Incendiary
Bombs with Very Hard Coal-Tar PItch: I b'ceniher 13, 111 11. 3 pp.
 ~ 3i'lson, C. E., Al IH(0~)h('r(' (' 111 ml in the 1 h-at l'retuuuent of
Al :lonesitIni Pro luict s: l'res, at Am. Soc. Metals, Octoher 20—21,
1941.