UBE Seawater Magnesia (MgO) is a product that consistently stands out thanks to its high-quality manufacturing, purity, and versatility. We have been marketing UBE in Europe for more than ten years now.
UBE’s magnesia specialties are used in a wide variety of products in the fields of ceramics manufacturing, refractory materials, and glass production. With an MgO content of 95% to 99%, UBE’s seawater magnesia offers a level of quality and purity that is rare in this premium segment.
The production process is fully vertically integrated, which means that the raw material sources are also under UBE’s management, thus ensuring consistently high quality. The purity and consistency of the material is particularly important in niche applications where inferior qualities do not produce the desired results.
As mentioned, UBE seawater magnesia plays a central role in the ceramics and refractory industries. Due to its high heat and corrosion resistance, this material is ideal for applications requiring temperatures above 1,500°C and chemical resistance. It is used in high-temperature-resistant ceramics and in refractory linings for industrial furnaces. In this area of application, it is important that the material offers long durability.
In addition to durability, environmental compatibility is a property that makes the use of UBE more sustainable in most cases. Even though the integrated production process involves increased CO2 emissions due to thermal treatment, the product can still be considered sustainable in its application. According to UBE’s presentation at MagForum 2023, MgO contributes to improving the corrosion resistance of lead-free and chromium-free anti-corrosion coatings used on steel bridges, for example. The resulting improvement in the service life of the structures contributes to lower maintenance costs.
In addition to these products, UBE Seawater Magnesia can also be used for high-performance fillers in electric vehicles and in agricultural chemistry as a plant protection product. The plant protection product replaces conventional chemicals and is environmentally friendly.
Challenges and market positioning
Although UBE Seawater Magnesia offers high-quality usability in many areas of application, the market for the product is highly competitive. Due to its high quality and sophisticated manufacturing process, the price of UBE products is higher than that of less environmentally friendly alternatives. It is therefore important to position end products manufactured with UBE’s specialties in markets where quality and demand for the specific application take precedence over investment. A specific request requires a specific response.
The future of UBE Seawater Magnesia lies in continuous development and adaptation to the changing demands for materials in the high-performance segment and the growing interest in sustainable value chains.
