Abstract: Magnesium and magnesium alloy is the lightest metal structural material with excellent performance, but the strength of the magnesium alloy is not high, especially high temperature plastic forming performance is poor, and their industrial applications are unable to produce a structural material with high strength.However, magnesium matrix composites can overcome the shortcomings of single metal and thus can be used in a variety of complex environment. The comprehensive advantages of carbon nanotubes/magnesium matrix composites with carbon nanotubes and magnesium matrix, namely high dimensional stability thermal conductivity, high strength, high stiffness, high mechanical properties, but also has excellent performance, excellent electromagnetic shielding, can be widely used in production, but the research and preparation of carbon nanotubes magnesium matrix composite is not perfect, this paper analyzes the current situation, the carbon nanotube reinforced magnesium matrix composite material problems and the direction of development, provides a reference for the research and production.