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23.09.2020 | Mechanical Engineering + Materials | News | Online-Artikel

“Industrial Waste Resources Will Become the New Normal”

verfasst von: Leyla Buchholz

2:30 Min. Lesedauer

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Interviewt wurde:
Mike O’Driscoll

has over 30 years’ experience specializing in industrial minerals and markets.

Interceram turned to industrial minerals and markets specialist Mike O’Driscoll of IMFORMED – Industrial Mineral Forums & Research, to sound him out on refractory materials matters – particularly as they apply to the European industry. 

Interceram: Which do you regard as the critical raw materials for today’s European refractories industry?

Mike O'Driscoll: Refractory minerals may be termed the ‘DNA of refractories’, since without them refractories cannot be manufactured, nor perform to their desired requirements, thus directly impacting production of steel, non-ferrous metals, glass, cement, ceramics, lime, etc.

At least 25 different types of industrial minerals are used in refractory manufacture. It has been estimated that some 35m tpa of refractory minerals are consumed worldwide, with the leading minerals (by volume consumed) being fireclay (46 %), magnesia (26 %), bauxite (4 %), speciality aluminas (4 %), brown fused alumina (3 %), and dolomite (3 %). Each refractory product can have its own ‘critical’ raw material, such as insulation refractories need perlite or vermiculite, while specialist high resistance components need zircon or silicon carbide.

Read the full interview in our Refractories Manual 2020.

Where are the main sources for these materials? Do you see any of the imports or supply lines being compromised in the short- to medium-term?

With the exception of silica, and perhaps refractory clays to some extent, both of which can generally be sourced close to most refractory producing centers, all other refractory minerals are actually quite limited in their sources. Magnesias and aluminas are probably the most widely sourced, relative to the remainder. But even these are limited: high purity magnesias from Europe, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, Japan and China; aluminas from the USA, Europe, India, Japan and China.

What stands out of course is just how prevalent China is in supplying refractory minerals to world markets. In fact, based on global exports, China dominates world refractory mineral supply in bauxite (almost 100 %), magnesias (57 %), natural graphite (60 %), fused alumina (58 %), silicon carbide (53 %), and for fireclay is second (11 %) after Ukraine (80 %).

A look at the charts of export markets for specific Chinese refractory exports indicates that leading consuming markets are in the USA, Japan, India, South Korea, and the Netherlands (a conduit to European consumers) – all leading steelmaking countries. As any mineral consumer knows, having all your mineral supply in one source basket – for example China – might be rather risky (and it is!).

What is the status and outlook for recycling refractories?

There is a sector that has received a boost from the raw material situation, that of recycling refractories. This sector, while not new, has recently increased in size, and in attention to research and development.  Recycling refractories is still not that widespread, led mostly in Europe, but is fast gaining traction in China, India, and South Korea. More processing companies, and a few refractory and steel companies, in Europe are dedicating investment and production lines to processing minerals from industrial waste – not only driven by demand for alternative mineral sources and to cut costs (from waste disposal), but also the more widespread (and, crucially, EU-funded) move to develop a Circular Economy to protect our environment.

Industrial waste resources such as refractories will emerge as the new alternative ‘mineral resource’ and eventually become the ‘new normal’ supply chain option for mineral consumers.

Thank you for the interview.

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