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As a Dust Suppressant
Due to its extreme hygroscopic quality and being environmentally-friendly,
it is used in many countries as a dust suppressant or dust binder on dusty roads, unpaved helipads, inside mine shafts and tunnels in mines, open-cast iron ore and coal mines or where volcanic dust could pose a problem. In thickly wooded areas where flying dust could spoil trees etc, by using a solution or Mg Cl2 6H20 with water, using simple apparatus of a road tanker with a spray boom.
As A De-icing Compound
One of the major uses all over the world is as a de-icing compound.
Being completely environmentally-friendly, it is used extensively to keep outdoor surfaces around hotels, private homes as well as roads, etc. free of ice, especially at ski-resorts in Europe, Korea and Japan. The other de-icers which have high Sodium content can pollute underground water resources and destroy vegetation.
Hypomagnesaemia
Extensively
used for the treatment of Hypomagnesaemia (Grass Tetany or Grass Staggers).
Recent research has proved that this condition mainly in cattle and
sheep follows after winter when a herd is turned on to lush spring
grass. Hypomagnesaemia is more noticeable in cattle grazing on pastures
which have recently received a dressing of nitrogenous or potash fertilizer.
By spraying a solution of magnesium chloride on grass or even
directly on the animal or mixed into the cattle feed, this
condition is prevented and has proved to be extremely beneficial
to livestock. Magnesium Chloride being environmentally-friendly,
will not damage either grasslands or the cattle.
Industrial Flooring
It is used in industrial floorings, ship decks, railway coach floorings,
hospital floors and for aircraft hangar floors, ammunition factory floors,
missile silos and underground armament factories and bunkers.
The famous Siegfried Line of WW-II on the border of Germany and
France had its entire floor rendering of this cement.
Medical Benefits
Magnesium
Chloride is used in the manufacture of Magnesium Hydroxide Mg(OH)
2 for further preparation of antacids for relieving stomach ailments
and ulcers. It is also used for alimentation.
From research by well-known French surgeon, Prof. Pierre Delbet, MD, as reported by Dr. Walter Last, who himself claims that "magnesium chloride is nothing short of a miracle mineral in its healing effect on a wide range of diseases as well as in its ability to rejuvenate the ageing body". Prof. Delbet's list includes diseases of the digestive tract such as colitis and gall bladder problems, Parkinson's disease, tremors and muscle cramps, acne, eczema, psoriasis, warts and itching skin, impotence, prostatic hypertrophy, cerebral andcirculatory problems,asthma, hay fever, urticaria and anphylactic reactions. Hair and nails became stronger and healthier, and patients have more energy.
In recent years Dr. Vergini and others have confirmed these earlier results and have added more diseases to the list of successful uses, acute asthma attacks, shock, tetanus, herpes zoster, acute and chronic conjunctivitis, optic neuritis, rheumatic diseases, many allergic diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome and beneficial effects in cancer therapy. In all these cases magnesium chloride had been used and gave much better results than other magnesium compounds.
It is proved that many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be overcome with high magnesium supplementation, shaking can be prevented and rigidity eased.
Magnesium for the heart:
Adequate levels of magnesium are essential for the heart muscles. It was found that those who die from heart attacks have very low magnesium but high calcium levels in their heart mucles. Patients with coronary heart disease who have been treated with large amounts of magnesium survived better than those with drug treatment. Magnesium dilates the arteries of the hearts and lowers cholesterol and fat levels.
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As a Flame Retardant
One
of the most important uses of Magnesium Hydroxide today in Europe
and America is as a flame retardant in polymers. Recent regulation
in the West to ban or curtail the use of halogenated retardants (considered
carcinogenic) has increased the demand for Mg(OH)2 retardants, going
up to several thousand tonnes per year. Mg(OH)2 withstands up to 340oC
and has been used as an effective flame retardant particularly for
poly- oleofins. The Asahi Glass company in Tokyo manufacture a range
of magnesium hydroxides for flame retardant applications and are potential
customers for magnesium chloride. The main suppliers in Europe are
Kyowa Chemical Industry (Kagowa) of Japan.
Impact-proof, fire-retardant, anti-static flooring
Another
major use is in the preparation of oxychloride cement (3MgO
MgCl2 11H2O) which are made up in carefully balanced proportions of
Magnesium Chloride and a dry mix consisting of calcined magnesium
oxide (MgO) or Magnesite with fillers and other aggregates depending
upon the requirement. These cements are fast setting and form a dense
stone like product of smooth texture which is very strong, impact
resistant, fire retardant and non sparking (antistatic).
Magnesium
oxychloride Cement (3MgO MgCl2> 11H2>O) is a tough
stone-like, fire-proof compound that can be used for light or heavy
floorings. Having a tremendous load bearing capacity. It can withstand
vibrations from heavy cast-iron wheel movement without the least
trace of cracks or fissures. It is ideal for coating wooden floors,
theater stages and renovating old lofts. Oil and grease stains can
be
rubbed off easily without leaving any marks on it.
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