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Oriental Wonders - Part II
Magnesium Board
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| by Kim Kinrade |
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| Seven years ago I purchased a Victorian home overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The ravages of time and nature meant that I had to put more than just sweat equity into the place to get it back to its original shape. Jumping past the foundation, roof , windows and everything else that keeps Mother Nature out I began on the interior. This meant dealing with lathe and plaster. |
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| The first mistake I made with the walls in a bedroom was to gut them. I pulled off all the lathe and plaster and, because insulation was never a Victorian strong point, I batted the walls and put on vapor seal before the drywall. This is where I got into trouble. The plasterers had shimmed the crooked studs which may or may have been 4” wide. This meant that to get the drywall on I had to re-shim the studs. I soon figured out that you leave the lathe on and use it as a base to attach the drywall. |
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| But I marveled at the skill of the plasters and thought how drywall must have been a revolutionary product when first introduced. The keen eye was no longer needed – just a level and a plumb line. |
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| Just recently Ross MacDonald of Millennium Plywood brought to my attention a new product from the Orient commonly called Magnesium Board. I was told that this product would end the reign of drywall. What is this marvelous product? |
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Magnesium Oxide Board - What is it? |
| Magnesium oxide board is sold in sheets very much like drywall only with these claims: It is formed from a composition of materials which differ depending on what Chinese or Korean site you land on. The main makeup of the board is magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride and a binding agent (e.g., perlite). Some companies in China include rice husks, wood shavings and recycled board scraps. This is sandwiched between two layers of polyester sheet much like paper is used to form drywall. |
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How is Magnesium Oxide Board Made? |
| The manufacturing process is common on most board: mixing magnesium chloride and magnesium oxide and the binding agents to form a paste. This paste is then passed through a series of rollers to spread out the mixture evenly across a mold to get the desired thickness. It during this process that the polyester cladding is stamped on. |
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Here are the main claims that were presented
to the US Patent Office:
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1) Flame proof: resistant to combustion at 800ºC and will not flame at up to 1,200ºC
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2) Waterproof: resistant to deformation in wet environments
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3) Lightweight: volume weight: 0.85 - 1.27grams per cubic meter
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4) Strong: bendable and impact resistant
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5) Will not lose its shape in wet, hot and dry conditions
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6) Sound-inhibiting qualities of acoustic tile.
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7) Cold resistance: can be used in temperature as low as -40C
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8) Easy to cut, saw, nail, stick, paint and veneer
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9) Green: free of asbestos, formaldehyde and ammonia
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10) Mold and Mildew Resistant
Because of these qualities it is used in all indoor areas including ceilings. |
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Magnesium Building Products.
Pictures from Dezhou Lingmei Industry & Trade Co., Ltd |
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