The differences between Shanxi bauxite and Henan bauxite

Bauxite is playing a crucial role as an important raw material in the refractory materials industry, especially in silicon-aluminum refractory materials. In China, bauxite is mainly distributed in Shanxi, Henan, Guizhou and other places. Shanxi and Henan together account for the majority of bauxite reserves.

Shanxi bauxite reserves account for about 43% of the country’s total. It is characterized by high silicon and aluminum content, low iron, potassium and sodium content, uniform mineral phase, and after calcination, the content of AL2O3 can reach over 90%, with low impurity content such as Fe2O3 and TiO2. Its refractoriness is up to 1780℃, strong chemical stability, high bulk density and low water absorption rate, as well as high high-temperature strength and good creep resistance. It is more suitable for the production of medium and high-end refractory materials, especially castables.

Henan bauxite reserves are second only to Shanxi, with the AL2O3 content of 60-70%. The silicon content is generally high, and the aluminum-silicon ratio is relatively low, which has some impact on high-temperature performance. The refractoriness is also good, but the volume stability after calcination is slightly inferior. The Fe2O3 content is relatively high, generally maintained at around 2%. In the application of refractory materials, the slag resistance is slightly worse. The quantity of high-quality bauxite with better aluminum content is relatively small. It is more suitable for the production of medium and low-end refractory materials, such as grade two high alumina bricks, grade three high alumina bricks, etc. Some enterprises mix Shanxi and Henan bauxite to reduce production costs, but the specific proportion must be well controlled; otherwise, it will be counterproductive.

When choosing bauxite, we should not blindly pursue price, another important thing is that the product suitable for the working conditions should be selected based on the usage scenario.