Magnesium Oxide (MgO) boards are leading the charge when it comes to innovative building materials. They excel in performance parameters in comparison to cement and gypsum boards, owing to their superior tensile strength, weatherability, and resistance to insects, fire, and mold. MgO boards are used for several applications, including ceiling and wall linings and underlayments.
MgO is a type of sheathing board — like a cement board or a drywall — with very high performance characteristics compared to alternatives. This article presents an overview of magnesium boards and their benefits.
Attributes of Magnesium Oxide Boards
Magnesia or Magnesium Oxide is a naturally occurring and widely abundant mineral which, when used in cement mixtures and cast as thin panels under adequate proper curing procedures, can be used in construction. In its raw form, MgO boards are silvery white in color, turning into a soft gray after processing. MgO is free of toxins, including heavy metals, asbestos, and organic solvents.
In terms of performance, MgO is highly resistant to most elemental threats, which is why it has a variety of general building applications. Due to the strong bond between oxygen and magnesium, MgO crystals are sturdy, with very high fire endurance.
The Benefits of using MgO boards
Along with their fire resistance, MgO boards have high water-resistance ratings as well, in addition to being asbestos and mold-free. Moreover, they’re quite energy-efficient, since the calcination temperature of magnesite is lower than that of traditional calcium oxide. Magnesia boards are also considered environmentally-friendly and are comparably cheaper than cement boards, with several more advantages for wet applications.
Since green building is the primary focus of both businesses and contractors these days, MgO has great potential in projects which require structured insulated panels (SIPs). MgO SIPs are not only produced efficiently, but they also don’t require high-energy treatments. Since these boards are non-toxic, MgO panels deliver a high R value (insulation value) when constructed with EPS substrates. Furthermore, a longer life-cycle leads to decreased waste.
Applications
Apart from SIPs, the fundamental use of Magnesium Oxide boards is as sheathing material. MgO boards are being increasingly used in building applications owing to the gaining popularity of SIPs. With SIPs applications, MgO can be nailed into, painted or drilled. In addition they are used as interior walls, ceiling and flooring boards. Fascias, exterior sheathing and tile backing are a few examples of its common applications.
We supply state-of-the-art non-combustible, asbestos-free, and inorganic Magnesium Oxide Sulphate Wallboards and Fire Resistant Flooring Board. Contact us for more information.