Magnesium Ribbon: Rolled Hot at 450 °C and Slit

Magnesium ribbon catches in a flame and burns with an intense white light, which makes it the lighter for a thermit charge. Thorpe (1912): magnesium is malleable but ductile only when hot, it can be rolled at 450 °C, and it is most used flattened into ribbon. It tarnishes in moist air, so store it dry. Keep flame away from the finished ribbon. The picture: magnesium ribbon burning (Wikimedia Commons).