Application of rare earth in magnesium and magnesium alloys

Rare earth has been widely used in metallurgy and material fields for its special physical chemistry properties. In this article, the effects of rare earth during the process of magnesium and magnesium alloys melting, including eliminating hydrogen, deoxygenating oxides e and preventing ignition are introduced, the influence and the correlative mechanisms of rare earth in refining the microstructures of magnesium, improving its mechanical properties at elevated temperature and corrosion resistance are also reviewed.