1. STRONTIUM CARBONATE
1.
PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
Appearance
Colourless or white crystralline solid
Grades
Granular (glass grade)
Powder (chemical or ferrite grade)
Specifications
Strontium carbonate as SrCo3
Insolubles in dilute HCl
Sulphate as SO4
Chloride as Cl
Iron as Fe
Calcium as Ca
Barium as Ba
pH of 10% suspended powder in water
Moisture
Fineness
2.
98.50%
0.10%
0.01%
0.009%
0.001%
0.25%
0.21%
6 to 7
Less than 1%
200 micro mesh
PRODUCT APPLICATIONS
Extensively used in the manufacture of glass face plate for colour television tubes. It is an
effective x-ray barrier. It is also added to special glasses, glass frits and ceramic glazes.
Used in the production of high purity, low lead electrolytic zinc by ASARCO,
Inc.process.
Used as catalyst in radiation resistant glass and in the manufacture of hard ferrites.
3.
IMPORTS
Around 1000 tonnes per annum
Strontium carbonate is imported into the country by the Colour TV picture tube and hard
ferrite manufacturers. Though number of units produce the product in the country, they
do not appear to meet the requirements of high technology applications.
4.
EXPORTS
Nil
Anti dumping duty on Strontium carbonate
The Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry has recommended imposition of
preliminary anti dumping duty on import of Strontium carbonate from China.
After a preliminary probe, based on the petition filed by the TCM Ltd., on behalf of the
domestic industry, the Authority found that the subject goods in all forms originating in
or exported from China have been exported to India below its normal value.
Accordingly, the Authority has recommended imposition of anti dumping duty on
imports of all forms of subject goods from China from all exporters/producers at the rate
of $291.76 per tonne.
In its remarks, the Authority said production in the domestic industry has declined to
159.25 tonnes during the period of investigation (Pol) from 330.55 tonnes in 1998-99 and
236.55 per tonne in 1997-98. The capacity utilisation too had declined from 33.05 percent
in 1998-99 to 15.92 percent in the Pol. The sales of the domestic has declined to 71.35
tonnes during the Pol from 210.9 tonnes in 1998-99 and 219.4 tonnes in 1997-98.
The domestic industry has lost market share from 16.1% in 1997-98 to 3.84% in the Pol,
while the subject country had enhanced its market share from 54.23% to 71.28% during
the same period.
5.
INDIAN MANUFACTURERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Akshay Chemicals, Baroda
India Inorganics, Orissa
Limbani Salt Industries, Palghar
Ramchand Organic Chemicals, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu
Sri Annapurna Chemical Inds., Hyderabad
Travancore Chemical & Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Kerala
Yogi Dyechem Industries, Maharashtra
The above units generally produce a number of products including Strontium carbonate
and Strontium nitrate. The units meet the requirement of Strontium nitrate by fire works
units.
6.
DEMAND SUPPLY TRENDS
Present Indian demand for different grades :
1500 tonnes per annum
Demand largely met by the imports
Growth rate in demand: Around 7 to 8% per annum
7.
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Strontium carbonate is produced using the ore Celestite as the raw material. Celestite
contains around 75-80% of strontium sulphate and is adequately available in the country.
Good deposits of celstite is available in Trichy Dist., and surrounding areas in Tamil
Nadu. There appear to be different opinions with regard to the comparative quality of
Indian deposits.
Celestite is reacted with sodium carbonate at a temperature of around 90 deg. C for a
period of 6 to 8 hours and strontium carbonate is formed in the form of muddy solution
along with sodium sulphate in dissolved state. The above solution is subjected to
filteration to separate strontium carbonate. The solution is then concentrated to produce
crystalline strontium carbonate.
The powder grade is also called as chemical or ferrite grade and as average particle size
of one micron. Granular grade is also called as glass grade and is made by calcining the
powder grade.
8.
GLOBAL SCENARIO
Global demand
:
0.3 million tonnes per annum
World consumption pattern
Sector
TV picture tube glass
Pyrotechnic
Electrical material like ferrites
% use
70
25
5
International Producers
There are three major producers of Strontium carbonate in USA.
In USA, FMC Corporation produces strontium compounds at Modesto, California and
Chemical Products Corporation manufactures strontium carbonate only at Cartersville,
Georgia. The manufacturers use black ash process and Mexican celestite as raw material.
Barium and Chemicals Inc., USA produces number of strontium compounds at its plant
in Steubenville, Ohio.
9.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Technology may have to be sourced from abroad. In view of the availability of mineral
in Tamil Nadu, the project should be favourably considered in the state.