A Perspective on Mg/Al Laminated Metal Composites

Mg/Al laminated metal composites (LMCs) combine the low density of Mg alloys with the good corrosion resistance and formability of Al alloys, showing great application potential in the lightweighting field. However, the difficulty in coordinating deformation between Mg and Al alloys, together with the inevitable formation of brittle Al-Mg intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the interface when the two metals are directly bonded, severely deteriorates the mechanical properties of Mg/Al LMCs and hinders their transition toward practical engineering applications. This perspective systematically reviews the historical development and primary fabrication routes of Mg/Al LMCs, with a particular focus on the thermodynamics and kinetics of interfacial reactions, the shift from passive IMC suppression to active interfacial-phase design, and the emerging opportunities brought by artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the remaining challenges in process–interface–property correlations, multicomponent interlayer design, database construction for AI-driven design, and closed-loop intelligent manufacturing are identified. The aim is to guide future research through critical insights and perspectives, and to offer valuable references for the development of high-performance lightweight LMCs.