Why is welding magnesium considered a serious safety hazard?

Welding magnesium is considered a serious safety hazard primarily because it burns with a very hot flame that is hard to extinguish. When magnesium ignites, it burns at a temperature that can reach several thousand degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heat not only poses risks to the welder and surrounding personnel, but also makes traditional extinguishing methods ineffective; water, for example, can exacerbate the situation by creating explosive reactions.

Understanding the properties of magnesium is critical. It is highly reactive, and when heated, it can ignite easily and sustain a combustion that is difficult to control. This requires welders to implement specialized procedures and precautions to mitigate the risk of fires or explosions. Furthermore, magnesium fires typically produce a bright light that can be hazardous to vision and surrounding areas. Therefore, the challenges presented by its high combustion temperature and difficulty in extinguishing fires make welding magnesium a significant safety concern.