Welding and Joining of Magnesium

The use of magnesium in a wide range of structures is expected to increase, together with the need to join it to other materials. Laser welding may be used for magnesium-magnesium joints, but other techniques will be needed for joining magnesium alloys to other materials, notably aluminium. It is shown that, for seam joints, friction stir welding is a contender, while self-piercing rivets and clinching are promising techniques for point joints. However, much further development needs to be done both to understand joint performance and to prove their industrial applicability.