Originally Posted by
rushbikes
Not uncommon to the mtn bike world. I've seen Mg used a fair bit in forks, I think primarily in the lowers.
Also, I remember some small frame builders touting Scandium, as well. I may be wrong, but I recall reading that their were issues with the welding letting off highly toxic gasses.
Scandium just means adding a small amount of Sc to Al alloys (usually 7xxx series). Increases strength with dispersoids, along with the normal precipitatin hardening of 7xxx series alloys. I really haven't heard of any additional weldability issues with Sc additions beyond the normal hurdles associated with welding aged alloys.