15 Sep How Strong is a Magnesium Oxide Board?
Table of Contents
Are you building a project that demands resilience? Whether you’re crafting sturdy walls or a reliable subfloors, choosing the right material is key. So, let’s see how strong MgO boards are!
Magnesium Oxide Boards: Strength and Durability
MgO boards are one of the strongest construction materials. Despite being only 12mm thick, a MgO board with a #10 screw can hold 16 lbs. pulling down and over 200 lbs. pushing sideways!
High Compression Strength
MgO boards often have compressive strength ranging between 12 and 25 MPa. If you are unfamiliar with MPa or megapascal, it is a unit of pressure commonly used in engineering and science. The compression strength of MgO boards exceeds that of most traditional materials. Because of their supreme performance and strength, MgO boards are ideal for load-bearing applications.
This includes using them as subfloor material in multi-story buildings. They are excellent as structural walls and are often used to support the weight of the roof or additional floors. Additionally, they are great in heavy-duty applications. Industrial buildings and storage facilities can benefit from strong MgO boards.
Great Tensile Strength
Tensile strength refers to the maximum load a material can support without cracking or breaking. MgO boards have notable tensile strength. It allows them to resist breaking under tension. This property is important for applications where the boards may be subjected to stretching forces. MgO’s main component is magnesium oxide, which is hard and sturdy.
But, MgO boards are further reinforced with materials like fiberglass mesh and fillers. Fiberglass mesh and fillers like perlite or vermiculite enhance the MgOs’ tensile properties. This notable tensile strength makes them great for ceilings and roof panels. It ensures that the boards remain intact while subjected to forces. You can also use them for suspended structures, like ceilings or overhangs.
Excellent Flexural Strength
We’ve talked about how strong MgO boards are, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg! MgO boards can resist bending forces without cracking or breaking. Their flexural strength value often exceeds those of traditional drywall. Flexural strength refers to the maximum stress a material can handle before it bends. MgO boards have such great flexural power that they are often compared to high-quality cement boards.
MgO boards’ ability to flex without breaking makes them suitable for applications with curved surfaces. Those include architectural features and design elements.
Get In Touch
Contact Sulfycor to Get Mgo Board Latest Quotation List
Strength Comparison: MgO boards vs. Traditional Materials
One way to determine a material’s strength is to compare it with similar materials. Let’s compare MgO boards with other construction materials to see how strong they are.
MgO Board vs. Gypsum Board
Unlike MgO boards, gypsum boards have lower compressive, tensile, and structural strength. Drywall is not impact-resistant and cannot handle higher loads without breaking. MgO boards are more robust and can withstand impacts. Gypsum boards are generally prone to cracking and breaking under stress. They are also made of gypsum, a soft mineral. Some types of drywall even have hollow cores.
The compressive strength of the gypsum board is between 3 and 6 MPa. It is one of many reasons you cannot use drywall for long-bearing walls. Unlike MgO boards, you cannot use drywall for flooring. Why? It simply cannot handle the compressive forces from foot traffic.
MgO Boards vs. Plywood
Plywood is a product made by gluing thin sheets of wood veneer. The grain of each of these layers runs in different directions, providing good strength. But, the compression of plywood is also problematic. The glue that binds the veneers is not as strong as the wood itself. Glue can easily fail and cause layers to separate. Additionally, the wood fibers are weaker compared to magnesium oxide. All of this contributes to the lower compressive strength of plywood.
Furthermore, plywood’s compressive strength is between 3 and 45 MPa. But, the wide range of their compressive strength is mainly due to numerous material variations.
Like drywall, plywood is not a good idea for long-bearing walls structural elements. Columns and posts are often exposed to high compressive loads, and plywood cannot handle them.
MgO Boards vs. Cement Boards
Right of the bat, cement boards are also very strong and durable. When it comes to compressive strength, they are very similar to MgO boards. Their compressive strength typically ranges from 10 and 25 MPa. Some cement boards can even have compressive strength of 40 MPa. Like with MgO boards their strength can depend on the specific composition and thickness.
Cement boards are also great for long-bearing walls. They generally have very similar applications to MgO boards. They can be used for flooring and anywhere where support for heavy loads is crucial. MgO boards have many “properties” in common. The issue with cement boards is their installation. They are very heavy, compared to MgO boards. So, handling and cutting them can be a nightmare. The installation process depends on their thickness as well as your expertise.
Application: MgO boards in Earthquakes
MgO boards have versatile applications because of their numerous great features. They have been studied for their performance. The experts determined that MgO boards exhibit several advantageous properties. Their strength helps maintain structural integrity during earthquakes. When structural integrity is not compromised, there is less risk of collapse.
Due to their flexural strength, they can bend without breaking. MgO boards’ performance during seismic activity is unmatched compared to other regular materials. Also, MgO boards offer resistance to lateral forces. They provide good shear strength and help resist forces exerted during an earthquake. If you have doubts about the strength of MgO boards, just remember that the Great Wall of China is made of MgO cement. One of the greatest builders, Romans also used MgO cements as mortar.
Important note: Not all MgO boards are the same. They all have magnesium oxide as a base. But, today there are different formulations of MgO boards and they can have different performance.
Conclusion
MgO boards are very strong and durable. Their compressive strength ranges from 12-25 MPa. A 12mm thick MgO board can handle with a #10 screw that can hold 16 lbs. pulling down. Sideways, it can handle up to 200lbs. MgO boards also offer excellent tensile and flexural strength. In the second part of the article, I compare MgO with other materials. Ultimately, I have presented the performance of MgO in natural disasters, such as earthquakes!