Combustible Metals

Motor vehicles are incorporating a growing volume of combustible metals (such as Magnesium and Aluminum) for weight reduction. The following table lists properties of some of these metals in their pure form. The metals used in vehicles, likely to be alloys developed to improve properties related to corrosion and high temperature resistance, would have different properties than those listed.  

Magnesium is light in color, silvery white, and when ignited burns with a "dazzling white flame." It is used in flares and pyrotechnics. [5]

References

1. Shackelford, J., Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers, Prentice Hall, 2000.
2. NFPA 484 Standard for Combustible Metals, Metal Powders, and Metal Dusts, 2002.
3. Mallinckrodt Chemicals, MSDS "Magnesium Metal, Powder," 1979.
4. Shackelford, J.F., et al., The CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook, CRC Press, 1992.
5. Weast, R., CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 49th Edition, 1968.