What Is The Difference Between Magnesium Oxide Board And Gypsum Board?

11 Jun What Is The Difference Between Magnesium Oxide Board And Gypsum Board?

Construction projects are now easier with the newly inducted boards. However, the variety of boards available in the market needs to be clarified for customers about which one is the best. Having spent more than 8 years in this field, I am about to share the most unexpected insights here.

Gypsum board is softer and more easily cut due to its lower hardness and bending strength, and it is also typically more affordable in price. MgO board, also known as magnesium oxide board, offers superior performance in terms of fire resistance, waterproofing, and bending strength, but it is more expensive. When it comes to on-site installation and there is a need for cutting the material, working with an MgO board can be more complicated.

Though the Magnesium Oxide board is always on the upper hand, having detailed information about its similarities and differences with other boards can help you make a better decision. Read this article thoroughly to learn about the difference between a Magnesium Oxide board and a Gypsum board.

Differences Between Magnesium Oxide Board and Gypsum Boards

Water Resistance

Surface moisture absorption of magnesium boards is 0.34%, while that of gypsum boards is almost 3%.

Water is the primal enemy of Gypsum boards due to their high water absorption capacity. Even a little exposure to water or moisture may negatively impact the board and cause it to start deteriorating.

On the contrary, Magnesium Oxide boards are specifically built for extreme water resistance conditions. They can withstand the impact even if kept submerged in water for 100 days.

Fire Resistance

Both Magnesium Oxide and Gypsum boards are non-combustible, with the Magnesium Oxide boards having an upper hand. On average, Magnesium Oxide boards with a thickness of over 3 mm meet the fire safety standard, while for Gypsum boards, this limit rises to 12 mm.

The fire resistance level of Magnesium Oxide boards can be imagined from the fact that they were tested in a vertical tube furnace at 750°C as per the ASTM E136-16A testing method. The result was exceptional, as there was no change in quality or state of the board.

Density

The magnesium oxide board’s low density, 0.85–1.2 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3), gives it a characteristic low weight. The low density of MgO boards is due to the presence of glass fiber, which has a cloth-like appearance and makes it stronger and lighter.

Meanwhile, Gypsum boards have a density range of 1.2-1.3 g/cm3. However, due to the shorter fibers of the Gypsum boards, they must have a high density to meet the strength of a Magnesium Oxide board at low density.

Impact Strength

Impact strength is the ability of a material to resist sudden and intense impacts by maintaining its form.

When talking about the impact strength of MgO boards, we see a high impact strength of 4.5 kilo Joules or more. The real hero behind this strength is the fiberglass mesh composition of the board.

On the contrary, due to their paper fiber composition, Gypsum boards only have an impact strength of 1 Kilo Joule. This makes them highly vulnerable to cracks, breaks, and deformation.

Bending Strength

Also known as flexural strength, Bending strength is the ability of a material to withstand extreme load while avoiding shape deformation.

Magnesium Oxide boards offer an impressive bending strength of 18-27 MegaPascals (MPa). Again, this characteristic feature is due to their cloth-like structure and fiberglass composition.

Gypsum boards, on the other hand, have a bending strength of 5.6 MPa or less. Their low bending strength is mainly due to the composition of the paper fiber.

Environmental Impact

Both Magnesium Oxide and Gypsum boards are environmentally friendly and do not release any toxic chemicals.

However, the manufacturing process of Magnesium Oxide boards conserves more fuel than Gypsum boards, making them cost-effective and more suitable for the environment.

Ease of Installation

Magnesium Oxide boards are much easier to install as they don’t require any specific tools. You can use nail screws and pneumatic nailing. Besides, the application process is simple, and those interested in DIY (Do It Yourself) tasks can also get the job done.

Gypsum boards, on the other hand, may require a professional to install them perfectly. Moreover, you’ll need specific tools like stone saws for cutting purposes. Also, it takes more time than a Magnesium Oxide board.

Benefits of Magnesium Oxide Boards

The usefulness of Magnesium Oxide boards in a variety of applications makes them a top choice for most customers. From physical properties to cost-effectiveness and performance, Magnesium Oxide boards go above and beyond people’s expectations.

Here is an overview of the benefits of using Magnesium Oxide Boards:

• High resistance against fire.
• Ability to withstand the impacts of water and moisture
• Stronger than other boards with low-weight
• Environmentally friendly
• Resists the growth of mold and mildew
• Excellent for termite and insect resistance
• Low energy consumption
• Easy installation as you don’t need any special tools
• MgO boards are recyclable
• Free of toxins like asbestos, benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, silica, etc.
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Drawbacks of Magnesium Oxide Board

Every product has its pros and cons, and you must select or reject it based on your preferences or requirements. Here are a few drawbacks of Magnesium Oxide boards that will show you the other side of the picture.

Initial Cost

Comparing the cost price of MgO boards with Gypsum boards, MgO boards are expensive. A simple explanation for this is the many benefits that MgO offers. Experts warn that low-priced Magnesium Oxide boards may need to meet the quality standards you are looking for.

Remember that the initial cost is what makes MgO look more expensive. In the long run, however, compared with Gypsum boards, MgO boards tend to be more cost-effective.

For instance, MgO boards with tile methods are quicker and easier to install, cutting on installation costs and time.

Similarly, MgO boards do not require corner nuts during installation, which is mandatory for Gypsum boards.

Sources

The need for sources for the production of Magnesium Oxide boards in the United States is also a considerable drawback. As most magnesium is found in Asian countries, especially China, the raw material or the manufactured boards are shipped globally to meet demands.

This results in an increased carbon footprint along with an increase in the overall cost of the board.

Why Is Sulfycor The Most Reputable Magnesium Oxide Board Manufacturer?

The success of engineers at Sulfycor in manufacturing chloride-free Magnesium Oxide boards makes it the most reputable and notable manufacturer of MgO boards. The company is based in Yulin. Guangxi, a city in China that is well known for its massive magnesium reserves.

The presence of excessive magnesium, combined with a massive workforce and large machinery, allows Sulfycor to meet its customers’ high demands.

Feel free to visit our site or talk to our expert customer care team to get an idea of how Sulfycor tirelessly meets your expectations. Get your sample product now, along with the best quote for your requirements.

Conclusion

Just like any other product, MgO boards also have a couple of drawbacks in the form of high cost and lack of source material. However, advancements in technology are camping with these two by mining magnesium-based minerals; it is still under development.

Just like any other product, MgO boards also have a couple of drawbacks in the form of high cost and lack of source material. However, advancements in technology are camping with these two by mining magnesium-based minerals; it is still under development.