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Originally Posted by mechanicalbrain
Actually magnesium is relatively hard to set fire to magnesium when their is good amount of it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium We use it alloyed with aluminum for bolts and screws, amazingly light. You can hardly feel it. It's also super strong. |
Thats true. When I was in the Coast Guard the old rescue helicopters had magnesium wheels. Some of the bigger CG cutters had these choppers stationed on the ship. If a landing helicopter hit the deck too hard the tires would blow and the wheels would catch fire.
There was no way to put them out once they caught, and they would burn right through the deck of the ship. The standing proceedure was to get the crew out, then the captain would turn the ship hard right rudder, causing the ship to list hard over, and the helicopter would go over the side.
Also, magnesium machine shops are required to be separate buildings for insurance purposes, because its not a question of "if" there will be a fire, only of "when".