Magnesium Oxide (Magnesia)
MgO | CAS: 1309-48-4 | HS: 28199000
Product Description
Magnesium Oxide is produced by calcination of magnesite (MgCO₃) or Mg(OH)₂ at different temperatures — producing light calcined (reactive), dead-burned (refractory), or fused forms with dramatically different properties. Light calcined MgO is highly reactive and used in rubber, plastics, fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals. Dead-burned (periclase) and fused MgO are dense, high-melting refractory materials essential in basic oxygen furnace and electric arc furnace linings in steelmaking. Pharmaceutical-grade MgO is an antacid active ingredient. MITCHEM supplies light calcined and pharma grades with appropriate documentation.
Applications by Industry
Dead-burned magnesia (periclase) is the essential refractory lining material for basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) and electric arc furnaces (EAF) in primary steelmaking, providing resistance to basic slag corrosion.
Light calcined MgO is used as a vulcanisation activator and acid acceptor in neoprene (polychloroprene) rubber — neutralises HCl evolved during vulcanisation and improves heat and compression set resistance.
Used as a magnesium supplement and rumen pH buffer in dairy cattle diets — corrects magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesaemia/grass staggers) and maintains rumen buffering in high-concentrate diets.
Pharmaceutical-grade MgO is an active ingredient in antacid tablets and laxative formulations; also used as an excipient and pH modifier in solid dosage form manufacturing.