Resumen de Innovation and new markets heat up demand for technical ceramics
The refractories industry has gradually moved towards the development of new products with improved quality and purity, including synthetic materials, low silica magnesia-chrome (MgO-Cr[subscript]2 O[subscript]3 ) bricks, solid solution bonded alumina-chromite (Al[subscript]2 O[subscript]3 -Cr[subscript]2 O[subscript]3 ) bricks, magnesia-carbon/graphite (MgO-C) products, zirconia (ZrO[subscript]2 )-added products, MgO- Al[subscript]2 O[subscript]3 spinels and high-tech castables with steel/organic fibres.
Egypt-based Asfour Mining and Refractories also told IM that the ceramics market is steadily growing in the Middle East and North Africa region, particularly in Algeria, driving up demand for refractories in ceramics kilns. The company produces refractory materials for kilns in the steel, ceramics and cement industries, with a total production capacity of 90,000 tpa.
India-based abrasive and global refractories supplier Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI), which is a major producer of SiC from its 65,000 tpa plant in Russia, reported in September 2014 that "improved wear and metallised business drove growth in industrial ceramics".
