[TheForge] a question which probably has a simple answer

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

a 16 yrs old young man was helping with various projects to earn some
spending money. his parants are locked in a bitter divorce and being
here gives the young man time away from the combantants.

we were discussing small engines and i happened to show him two engines
which have magnesium engine blocks. He pondered that for a moment and
asked the question:

"What keeps the magnesium from bursting into flames like in chemisty
class?"

his next question was:

"How do they melt it to make the castings without it bursting into
flames?" It is melted and poured either in a vacuum or inert atmosphere
like argon, xenon, neon, etc.

I may have known the answer at one time but have forgotten it over the
years. I assume that it is passivated with an oxide which has a high
ignition temperature.

any one have a different or better answer.


-- 
terry l. ridder ><>