The use of magnesium

Magnesium is a lightweight (specific gravity: 1.74) metal with active chemical properties, good electrical and thermal conductivity. It can form high-strength lightweight alloys with excellent mechanical properties, high chemical stability, and strong corrosion resistance with other metals (especially aluminum), and has a wide range of applications in various aspects of modern industry. Magnesium can be used as a reducing agent for various metals (such as titanium production) and as a spheroidizing agent for the production of ductile iron. In the 1970s, magnesium was developed as a desulfurizer for high-quality steel. Compared with traditional desulfurization methods, the process was simple, the utilization rate was high, and the effect was good. It improved the practical castability, ductility, welding performance, and impact toughness of steel, increased the reliability and service life of steel use, reduced structural weight, and especially met the needs of oil and gas pipelines. Magnesium powder and magnesium strips are flammable. Can be used as artificial light sources for photography, fireworks, illumination flares, signal flares, etc. Aluminum alloy is a user of magnesium, which has good corrosion resistance, high strength, and is easy to weld. Aluminum alloy is widely used in food packaging, beverage cans, and other applications. In addition, magnesium is widely used in the transportation industry, aviation, defense industry, cable industry, construction industry, etc. In addition, magnesium as a high energy storage material (magnesium dioxide) will have broad prospects.

Magnesium Metal Market and Forecast

At present, there are more than ten magnesium producing countries in the world, about eighteen manufacturers, and equipment production of about 400000 tons. Among them, countries such as Canada and Japan produce magnesium by external heat method, with an annual output of over 30000 tons. Due to the development of magnesium in the civilian market and space technology applications, the production of magnesium has steadily increased. In 1988, the total annual production of magnesium in Western countries reached 241200 tons. From 1962 to 1970, the average growth rate of global magnesium production was 12.92%, and from 1971 to 1980 it was 4.18%. According to the original magnesium supply and demand forecast data in the Western world, the production capacity was 366000 tons and the consumption was 397000 tons by 1993, Since the 1970s, the price of magnesium in the international market has steadily increased, with an international market price of $3586 per ton in June 1989. In 1990, the free market price in the United States was between $3515.6-3527.4 per ton, and in the first quarter of 1995, the international market price was $3600 per ton.

Workshop composition

Raw material workshop, reduction workshop, refining workshop, etc

Product solution

Ordinary commodity magnesium ingots, second grade or above

Process scheme

The magnesium refining plant chooses the silicon thermal method for magnesium production, which has a simple process, low investment, short construction period, no pollution, and is suitable for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. The silicothermic magnesium refining technology using coal as fuel developed by Henan Metallurgical Planning, Design and Research Institute passed the provincial appraisal in March 1988. Under normal conditions, the crude magnesium production per 100 kilograms of pellets has stabilized at 12-15 kilograms, with a refining recovery rate of over 92%. According to the analysis of technical and economic indicators of manufacturers using different fuels, there is no significant difference in the service life of reduction tanks between coal-fired and gas-fired reduction furnaces. Under the same conditions of crude magnesium per tank (calculated at 12 kilograms of crude magnesium per tank), the thermal energy cost of gas is 2277 yuan/ton higher than that of coal-fired. In terms of construction investment, the infrastructure investment of gas stations accounts for about 30% of the total investment, and the investment in rotary kilns accounts for about 20% of the total investment of magnesium plants.

Technical Parameter