Turkiye will strengthen its presence in strategic sectors with boron carbide production. Eti Maden General Manager Keleser, stating that the facility in Balıkesir will produce 1000 tons of annual production, said, “The market for boron carbide in the sectors is $60 billion. Turkiye is opening up to such a market.”
Eti Maden General Manager and Chairman of the Board Serkan Keleser gave information about the Bandırma Boron Carbide Production Facility, which was established by the partnership of Eti Maden and SSTEK companies in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Presidency of Defense Industries.
Noting that they turn boron ore into boric acid (a white, pearly-like acid, boric acid) at the facilities in Bandırma, Keleser said, “Our Bandırma is also a place where we produce what we call normal, classical boric acid. We convert the boron ore you see in these facilities, which is $120-150 per ton, into boric acid. We bring the added value to seven to 1, to eight to 1 and increase to $1100-1200.”
Its value is increased up to 300 times
Keleser said that they will obtain boron carbide powder by mixing boric acid with petrocoke (solid fuel with high calorific value) and graphite (a carbon minaret) at the facility.
From this boron carbide powder, armor, rocket nozzle (where high-temperature gases released after the chemical reaction are discharged), sandblasting nozzle (sandblasting nozzle attached to the end of the sandblasting hose in sandblasting with compressed air and allowing the abrasive granule to be sprayed in the desired shape and amount), and materials used in renewable energies are made. Here, too, we are talking about a product whose ton has reached $35-45 thousand. In other words, we are talking about a product that costs between $120-150, $1000-1200, $35-45 thousand a ton. We are increasing its value 7 times to 1, 300 times to 1.”
Keleser produces 1000 tons of boron carbide per year.
Pointing out that they will realize their goal, he said, “With this 1000-ton production, armor, sandblasting nozzle, rocket nozzle, machine tool tip will be made. Consider that this market is approximately $60 billion in the world and we will enter that sector. The world’s classical boron products are 4 million tons, a market of two billion dollars. In 2022, Eti Maden sold 2,674 million tons of boron from this market and received approximately $1,321 billion, a total of $2 billion. We have a market share of 63%, but on the other hand, the market for boron carbide in the sectors is $60 billion. Now our Turkiye is opening up to such a market. We will currently produce boron carbide, boron carbide end products will be produced by foreign companies or our companies, Turkish companies.”
“For the first time, we will complete a value chain on board”
Keleşer also mentioned that they have a right orientation towards the boron ceramic market and continued as follows:
“Machine tool tip 1.25 grams, $1.5. Converted to tons, it’s $1.2 million a ton. So, you get it from $120-150 to $1000-1200, when it comes to boron carbide powder, to $35-45 thousand, at the machine tool tip you see here, you come to $1.2 million. You make a rocket nozzle, 241 grams, $1000, it comes to $4.1 million a ton. I don’t know, can I explain what we want to do? We have an orientation from that $2 billion boron classic market to a higher value-added, end-product boron ceramic market. Very valuable for us. In Turkiye, in 2023, on the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we will complete a boron value chain for the first time. We have the ore, we have the boric acid, we have the boron carbide powder, and we will make armor.”
Regarding the contribution of boron carbide production to the country, especially in the defense industry and aerospace, Keleser said, “Up to 100% of the products we mentioned are boron carbide. Boron carbide is made from boric acid, which is boron ore. We have the best quality and best boron ore in the world. Those who want to make the products we are talking about with the highest quality and the best should use Turkiye’s pipe. So is it possible for us not to benefit from this? That’s why it’s an exciting project.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz