When processing magnesium alloys, extreme caution must be exercised regarding processing safety. In the event of an accidental fire, appropriate fire extinguishing methods must be selected. Specific prohibitions are detailed in the table below.
Fire Extinguishing Methods
Instructions: Under no circumstances should water or any other non-Class D fire extinguisher be used to extinguish fires caused by magnesium.
This is because they will react with burning magnesium and intensify the fire rather than suppress it. In addition, chips should be cleaned up promptly. For equipment with chip conveyors, it's best to keep the chip conveyor function constantly running. This reduces the difficulty of extinguishing a fire and minimizes fire damage in the event of an accidental fire. Class D fire extinguishers (see Figure 3-46) are typically made of sodium chloride-based powder or a passivated graphite-based powder. Their principle is to smother the fire by removing oxygen. Covering agents or dry sand can be used to cover small fires; their principle is also to smother the fire by removing oxygen. Cast iron shavings can also be used when no other good extinguishing materials are available. Their main function is to lower the temperature below the ignition point of magnesium, rather than smothering the fire.
