Although magnesium is one of the ten main components of the Earth’s crust, it is still considered a critical raw material. Why is that?
Political dependence and the concentration of production in a few countries make the procurement of magnesium a logistical and strategic challenge, even though it should be available in large quantities thanks to its abundance in the Earth’s crust. Since 2020, the European Union has classified magnesium as a critical raw material. This is because, although magnesium is widely available, 95% of imports come from China. Dependence on China can inevitably lead to supply bottlenecks or sharp price fluctuations. [1]
Magnesium metals are in demand in the automotive, aerospace, and electrical industries as a lightweight yet strong material. Equally important, but not as much in the spotlight, are mineral magnesium compounds, which are used in many industries. These are needed, for example, as magnesium sulfate in the fertilizer industry, as magnesium hydroxide in plastics and rubber processing, and as caustic-burned magnesium oxide in animal feed[2], water treatment, brake pads, and flooring.
In addition to the magnesium compounds mentioned above, sintered magnesia is also in demand as dead-burned magnesia. The raw material is mainly produced by burning magnesium carbonate at temperatures between 1750 and 2100 °C. The result is a material with high temperature resistance and, in contrast to caustic-burned magnesium oxide, low chemical reactivity. This is due to the compacted crystal structure and reduced specific surface area. These properties make sintered magnesia ideal for use in refractory mixtures and as a raw material for various applications within a blast furnace.
Because sintered magnesia, with the exception of a few synthetic sources, is a naturally occurring product mined from the earth, its quality and physical properties depend on the geological composition of the source rock.
The type of processing, the furnace technology used, and the temperatures in the manufacturing process also influence the properties of sintered magnesia.
With our experience in the field of magnesium compounds and their areas of application, as well as our global network, we have the opportunity to transform a commodity into a specialty product.
We go into detail by focusing on the needs of our customers and asking the question, “What exactly should sintered magnesia achieve or prevent in your application?”
Are the characteristics of a source rock from Turkey, Australia, or Brazil more suitable than those from China? Could certain production steps have negative effects on our customer’s end product? How can we use mixtures to change the product in chemical and physical terms in order to solve problems for our customers? When should grinding be done just in time to ensure stable high quality, and when is it acceptable to use the more cost-effective stock production? Are the properties of a recycled product suitable for positively influencing the PCF of the end product? Etc.
Sintered magnesia is a remarkable product for refractory applications, but it is and can be more. Our experience in the field of different firing stages and raw material sources allows us to apply the properties of sintered magnesia in a wide variety of applications for magnesium oxide and to rethink them.
Contact us and together we will find the right raw material for your production.
