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M Gupta , SF Nano Res Let, 2017, 1:1 Editorial SciFed Nanotech Research Letters Open Access Magnesium Nanotechnology: A Promising Sustainable Technology for Greener Future *M Gupta *Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS) 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117 576 Magnesium is one of the most abundant metallic element in universe, planet earth (including earth crust and water bodies) and human body. Even plants need it for better growth. It is non-toxic (an average human needs 250-400 mg per day) and lightest metallic element that can be used safely in multiple weight critical engineering (such as automobile, aerospace, sports, electronic) and biomedical (as screws, pins and plates) applications. Moreover, it exhibits lower melting temperature than aluminum, superior damping, electromagnetic shielding and specific mechanical properties. It may be noted that currently aluminum based alloys are most favored light based materials but unfortunately aluminum is neurotoxic and requires care in disposal so that it should not enter the food cycle. The limitations of aluminum based materials to further benefit the environment make magnesium and magnesium based materials (including alloys and composites) worthy candidates to replace aluminum based materials and steels. The use of magnesium based materials ensures ~ 33% and ~75% reduction in weight when compared to aluminum based materials and steels, respectively. Replacing comparatively heavier metals and their alloys is particularly important for transportation sector as it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emission leading to ever increasing climate changes. Similarly, the use of magnesium based materials as orthopedic implants, for example, eliminates the need of revision surgery, doctor’s time, patient trauma and cost. Magnesium based materials were actively used during World War 2 time in defense, automobile and aerospace sectors. Interest in them was revived again for almost last 20 years when their abundance in earth crust was realized. The biggest challenge now is to develop new magnesium based materials that are capable to exhibit superior mechanical properties, machining and corrosion resistance. Unlike aluminum based materials, magnesium based materials are limited in number with a rather narrow spectrum of engineering properties. In that respect nanotechnology holds a promise to widen the spectrum of key engineering properties of magnesium based materials. There are two ways in which nanotechnology can used to enhance the properties. First way is to reduce the microstructural features, particularly grain size, to nano-length scale through severe plastic deformation processes such as equiangular channel processing or through the use of reinforcement at nano-length scale. Severe SF Nano Res Let ISSN:xxxx-xxxx SFNRL , an open access journal plastic deformation processing is still in the initial stage of development and will need more time to mature to industrial level. Addition of nanoparticles in lower amounts (typically < 3%) is another method that ensures almost no weight penalty (density of nanoparticles is normally higher than magnesium) when compared to micron size reinforcement which are used in larger amounts (15-25%). Magnesium based nanocomposites can be synthesized using traditional liquid and solid phase techniques requiring no additional infrastructural cost except for optimization of processing parameters. Depending on the type of matrix selected, magnesium based composites can be used in both as-cast and wrought forms. Magnesium based nanocomposites can easily be plastically deformed, for example, using hot extrusion to realize simple or complex shapes as required by end applications. Various research studies have shown that nanoparticles based on oxide, carbide, nitride and boride families and carbon based reinforcement such as carbon nanotubes (both single and multiwall), graphene and nanoplatelets can be successfully used to strengthen pure magnesium and its alloys. Properties such as ambient and high temperature strengths, ductility, fatigue, creep, oxidation and wet corrosion resistance can be significantly enhanced. It may however be noted that different types of reinforcement have different capabilities even if they fall within same family (such as oxide family). This necessitates the experimental validation for each matrix and reinforcement combination. For example, nano-reinforcement if added to pure magnesium can adversely *Corresponding author: M Gupta, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS) 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117 576. E-mail: [email protected] Received February 20, 2017; Accepted February 20, 2017; Published March 3, 2017 Citation: M Gupta (2017) Magnesium Nanotechnology: A Promising Sustainable Technology for Greener Future. SF Nano Res Let 1:1. Copyright: © 2017 M Gupta. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Volume 1 · Issue 1 · 1000001 page 1 of 2 Citation: M Gupta (2017) Magnesium Nanotechnology: A Promising Sustainable Technology for Greener Future. SF Nano Res Let 1:1. affect the wet corrosion resistance by serving as cathodic site while it can enhance wet corrosion resistance of an alloy by adversely affecting the precipitation of cathodic precipitates. Initial studies conducted on machining of nanocomposites revealed encouraging results in terms of cutting force, machining speed and tool wear. Experimental research conducted so far indicates the need for more fundamental understanding of the scientific concepts that govern the behavior of magnesium based nanocomposites. While recycling of magnesium based materials is not an issue as magnesium is non-toxic, challenges remain to ensure that new magnesium based materials are developed with alloying elements and reinforcements that do not pose any harm to nature. Another challenge faced by magnesium nanotechnology is to upscale the processing methods to industrial level so that these fascinating and promising materials can be used more and more in multiple engineering and biomedical applications for the wellbeing of planet earth and living organisms. Citation: M Gupta (2017) Magnesium Nanotechnology: A Promising Sustainable Technology for Greener Future. SF Nano Res Let 1:1. SF Nano Res Let ISSN:xxxx-xxxx SFNRL , an open access journal Volume 1 · Issue 1 · 1000001 page 2 of 2