Magnesium: Production and Technology

OF all the metals in the war program the demand for and the production of magnesium have increased percentagewise the most. In the prewar year 1939 the production was 3350 tons. The war program, twice expanded, now provides for nearly one hundred times that amount annually. The goal announced by the War Production Board in February 1942 was 362,500 tons per year. Be- cause of the development during the year of satisfactory types of incendiary bombs other than magnesium this objective has been somewhat reduced but the capacity of the plants already built or under construction will be huge. The Aluminum and Magnesium Division of the W.P.B. has had the responsibility of planning and implementing this expansion and of providing fabricating facilities as well for this greatly increased tonnage of magnesium ingot.