국립 부경대학교

Developing domestic own production technology for ‘magnesium oxide’, an import-dependent new material

Professor Wang Je-Pil

As the development of an independent technology for domestic production of Magnesium oxide (MgO), a new ceramic material that relies on imports for most of the domestic demand, is being promoted and it is attracting public attention. The research team (Chief Prof. Wang Je-Pil · Metallurgical Engineering) supervised by Pukyong National University in Busan has been selected for the 'Pilot project of domestic production for magnesium-based ceramic raw materials', which is an industrial technology innovative project by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for 2021, and the team will be provided 5.2 billion won for technology development by 2025 and plan forward for developing technology. In addition to the leading institution Pukyong National University, researchers such as Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, JPS Co., Ltd., Orient Ceramic Co., and Silla University, as well as technological innovation actors such as corporations and universities, jointly participate in the project. The goal of this project is to research ‘manufacturing technology for magnesium oxide using waste refractory materials containing magnesium and technology development for applied products using it’. This is to build a domestic production base for magnesium-based ceramic raw materials to strengthen the global competitiveness of materials supply and demand industries.

Magnesium oxide is a new ceramic material widely used in refractory materials (materials that can withstand high temperatures) in furnaces that manufacture steel, catalysts, adsorbents, glass, and medical supplies, however, more than 90% of domestic demand depends on imports, and even that amount is far below the supply. Under such conditions, the research team presented the idea of recycling magnesium oxide from waste refractory materials. According to the team's idea, magnesium oxide is recovered from waste refractory materials and re-created as a high-value material through processing. Based on the research results, screening, grinding, and iron removal processes of magnesium oxide-based refractories are reviewed, and powder manufacturing processes such as magnesium compounds are developed through physical and chemical treatment of the separated magnesium oxide powder. The powder processed in this way can be used as a refractory material or an auxiliary raw material for iron making. In addition, the research team will develop a high-functional ceramic filter manufacturing technology using magnesium oxide. It plans to develop a ceramic filter for removing impurities from aluminum molten metal mixed with magnesium oxide and a ceramic membrane technology for water treatment.

연구진

  왕제필 교수 jpwang@pknu.ac.kr

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