Research on magnesium (Mg) alloys still remains a prominent and expanding field in recent years. The Web of Science Core Collection database documented 4898 published articles on the topic, highlighting a sustained and growing interest. Statistical analysis of the literature reveals a consistent focus on microstructures, mechanical and corrosion properties. Significant progress has also been made in the manufacture of large-scale Mg alloy components. Meanwhile, steady advancements have been achieved in functional magnesium materials, magnesium-based hydrogen storage, and magnesium-ion batteries, with magnesium-based Energy Storage Mater. moving closer to commercial applications. Notably, the year 2024 marks a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, and the integration of big data and artificial intelligence is expected to significantly accelerate the research and development of magnesium alloy materials. Furthermore, the decline in primary magnesium prices in 2024 has triggered a new wave of research and large-scale commercial applications. Concurrently, there is growing interest in their use in emerging industries such as unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics. With continuous improvements and diversification in performance, the applications of magnesium alloys have expanded significantly in 2024, encompassing satellite components, integrated automotive structures, magnesium alloy formwork, and biomedical materials. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of development and key research challenges in the field of Mg alloys as of 2024, and also outlines potential future directions for research and application.

Magnesium matrix composites (MMCs) combine exceptional low density, high specific strength, and stiffness, positioning them as critical materials for aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries. This review highlights recent progress in the fabrication of Ti-Mg composites and analyzes the mechanisms behind their enhanced mechanical properties. A key focus is the interfacial deformation incompatibility between Ti and Mg phases, which generates strain gradients and promotes the accumulation of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) at the interface. This process not only improves strain hardening and ductility but also reveals the need for advanced micromechanical models to capture the plastic behavior of both phases. The review critically examines the impact of different Mg matrix types (AZ, AM, VW series) and the role of interfacial product morphology and size on bonding and overall performance. Furthermore, Ti reinforcement endows the composites with superior wear resistance and thermal conductivity, indicating broad application potential.

Biodegradable magnesium alloys show promising potential for pancreatic duct stents, yet their degradation varies significantly across physiological environments. This study compared the corrosion rates of extruded Mg-2Zn-xMn (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 wt.%) alloys in human pancreatic fluid. The results revealed that the alloys undergo different corrosion mechanisms in human pancreatic fluid, emphasizing the necessity of conducting evaluations under physiologically relevant conditions. Further investigations into the degradation mechanism in pancreatic fluid indicated that the alkaline PH (8.3–8.7), high bicarbonate concentration, and enzymatic activity significantly influence the corrosion process. Electrochemical and immersion tests showed rapid initial corrosion due to Cl⁻ attack, followed by the formation of a protective Mg(OH)₂, MgCO₃, and Ca₃(PO₄)₂ layer that slowed degradation. However, digestive enzymes, particularly trypsin, disrupt passivation by interacting with organic components, leading to pitting and filiform corrosion. Among the investigated alloys, Mg-2Zn-1.0Mn exhibited the most favorable combination of corrosion resistance, mechanical performance, and cytocompatibility. This study highlights the critical impact of pancreatic fluid on magnesium alloy degradation and stresses the need for physiologically accurate evaluations.

As one of the lightest engineering materials, magnesium (Mg) alloy possesses excellent mechanical performance, meeting the needs of versatile engineering fields and holding the potential to address cutting-edge issues in aerospace, electronics, biomedicine. The design of superhydrophobic (SHB) surfaces with micro and nanostructures can endow Mg alloys with multiple functionalities, such as self-cleaning, self-healing, antibacterial, and corrosion resistance. Over the past decade, researchers have drawn inspiration from nature to implement biomimetic design principles, resulting in the rapid development of micro/nanostructured SHB surfaces on Mg alloys, which hold great promise for biomedical applications. This review comprehensively introduces the biomimetic design principles of micro/nanostructured SHB surfaces on Mg alloys, discusses the challenges along with advantages and disadvantages of current preparation methods, and explores the future perspectives for preparing these SHB surfaces, providing strategies to enhance their performance in biomedical applications.

Interface segregation of solute atoms has a profound effect on properties of engineering alloys. In this study, we report a novel strategy for breaking the strength-ductility dilemma of Mg alloy via solute segregation. The hot extruded Mg-1.8Gd-0.3Zr (wt.%) alloy sheet was subjected to three different passes of rolling, and then heat-treated at 200 °C. The high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) reveals a remarkable segregation of solute Gd atoms along high and low-angel grain boundaries (GBs). Under almost precipitation-free conditions, the strength and ductility of rolled alloy sheets are simultaneously improved after annealing. Especially for the annealed 3-passes-rolled specimen, the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation are simultaneously increased by 11.2%, 7.3%, and 18%, respectively. The solute segregation endows the rolled plate with excellent grain size stability and provides a prominent extra solute cluster strengthening, which completely resists the other softening effects, including dislocation annihilation and grain coarsening during the heating. Meanwhile, the directional migration of Gd atoms and the annihilation of dislocations provide a “clear” space within the grain, which is beneficial for the moving and accumulating of subsequent dislocations. This work sheds light on the solute partitioning behavior and realizes a good application of GB segregation in improving the comprehensive mechanical properties of Mg alloys.

Currently, many gratifying signs of progress have been made in magnesium (Mg) matrix composites (MMCs) by virtue of their high mechanical properties both at room and elevated temperatures. Although the commonly used reinforcements in MMCs are ceramic particles, they often provide improved yield and ultimate stresses by a significant loss in ductility. Therefore, hard metallic phases were introduced as alternative candidates for the manufacturing of MMCs, especially titanium (Ti). It has a high melting point, high Young’s modulus, high plasticity, low level of mutual solubility with Mg matrix, and closer thermal expansion coefficient to that of Mg metal than that of ceramic particles. It is highly preferable to provide both high ultimate stress and ductility in Mg matrix. However, many critical challenges for the fabrication of Ti-reinforced MMCs remain, such as Ti’s homogeneity, low recovery rate, and the optimization of interfacial bonding strength between Mg and Ti, etc. Meanwhile, different fabrication methods have various effects on the microstructures, mechanical properties, and the interfacial strength of Ti-reinforced MMCs. Hence, this review placed emphasis on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Ti-reinforced MMCs fabricated by different techniques. The influencing factors that govern the strengthening mechanisms were systematically compared and discussed. Future research trends, key issues, and prospects were also proposed to develop Ti-reinforced MMCs.