continued to undergo consolidation and
reorganization during the year.  (See
table 11.)
Fused Aluminum Oxide
Government Programs. -The NDS, as
of December 31, 1993, contained
223,959 tons of crude fused aluminum
oxide and 43,614 tons of abrasive-grain
fused aluminum oxide. There is no NDS
goal for abrasive-grain fused aluminum
oxide or crude fused aluminum oxide; all
of the material is targeted for disposal.
During 1993 the NDS disposed of 3,193
tons of crude fused aluminum oxide and
2,555 tons of abrasive-grade fused
aluminum oxide.
Production.-At yearend, four firms
were producing fused aluminum oxide at
seven plants in the United States and
Canada.   Production of regular-grade
fused aluminum oxide in 1993 was
132,403 tons, a decrease of about 7%
from that of 1992.
Production of high-purity fused
aluminum oxide decreased 12 % to 21,276
tons. Total 1993 production of 153,680
tons was 8% less than that of 1992.
Consumption and Uses.-Fused
aluminum oxide has a number of different
end uses in the form of graded grain.
The total value of sales of fused
aluminum oxide-graded grain for all uses
decreased 7% compared to that of 1992,
which was a 10-year high. The value of
sales for use in bonded abrasives declined
4%, coated abrasives increased 4%,
refractories decreased 24 %, tumbling
media increased 14 %, blasting abrasives
increased 5 %, polishing cake and buffing
compounds decreased  21 %, antislip
abrasives decreased 21 %, polishing
abrasives decreased 10%, and all other
uses increased 13%. (See table 12.)
Prices.-The USBM did not collect
data on the prices of various grades of
fused aluminum oxide. It did collect data
on the value of fused aluminum oxide
production.  The average value of
regular-grade fused aluminum oxide, as
reported by producers, was approximately
$366 per ton. In 1993, the average value


of high-purity fused aluminum was $621.
The average value of all grades of fused
aluminum oxide in 1993 was $401 per
ton. Mineral price quotations in various
December issues of trade magazines listed
prices for regular-grade fused aluminum
oxide of $555 to $660 per ton, while
high-purity was quoted at $810 to $938
per ton.
Foreign Trade.-The quantity of
exports plus reexports of fused aluminum
oxide decreased 8% to 11,019 tons; the
value of exports plus reexports increased
slightly to $28.5 million. The average
value per ton of fused aluminum oxide,
exported or reexported, increased 9% to
$2,588.
Imports increased about 16% in 1993
to 158,000 tons, and the value of imports
increased about 4% to $76.9 million.
Silicon Carbide
Government Programs.-The NDS, as
of December 31, 1993, contained 31,508
tons of silicon carbide; the goal was zero.
During 1993, the Defense National
Stockpile Center of the Defense Logistics
Agency disposed of 5,797 tons of silicon
carbide. Existing legislation authorizes
disposal of all of the silicon carbide.
Production. -During 1993, three firms
produced silicon carbide at four plants in
the  United   States  and  Canada.
Production of abrasive-grade material
decreased  14%   to  38,296  tons.
Production of metallurgical-grade silicon
carbide decreased about 7% to 36,650
tons. Total production of silicon carbide
decreased 11% in 1993 to 74,945 tons.
Consumption and Uses.-Silicon
carbide has a number of different end
uses in the form of graded grain. The
total value of sales of silicon carbide
graded grain for all uses decreased 8 % in
1993.   The total value of sales by
individual end use was a mixture of
increases and decreases. Sales for use in
bonded abrasives were down slightly,
coated abrasives were up 3 %, refractories
increased 8%, tumbling media decreased
slightly, blasting abrasive increased 12%,
wiresawing abrasive was down 22 %,


polishing cake and buffing compounds
were down 33 %, antislip abrasives were
up 14%, polishing abrasives were down
24%, metallurgical was up 1 1 %, and all
other uses were up 8 %. (See table 12.)
Prices.-The USBM did not collect
price data on the various grades of silicon
carbide.  Data were available on the
value of production of the various grades.
The average value per ton of abrasive-
grade silicon carbide, as reported by
producers, was $539; metallurgical-grade
averaged $526; and the average value of
all grades was $533.  Mineral price
quotations in various December issues of
trade magazines listed prices for abrasive
grade as $900 to $1,425 per ton.
Foreign Trade.-Exports plus reexports
of silicon carbide in 1993 were 16,754
tons, a 24 % increase compared to that of
1992. While the total value of silicon
carbide  exported  plus  reexported
increased 31 % to $15.8 million, the value
per ton increased 6 % to $942.
Imports of silicon carbide in 1993
increased 29%  in quantity to 115,000
tons, the total value increased 14% to
$57.9 million. The average value per ton
decreased 23 % to $441.
Alumina-Zirconia Oxide
One firm produced fused alumina-
zirconia oxide in two plants, one each in
the United States and Canada. Abrasive
applications accounted for all the
production. Publishing production data
would disclose company proprietary data.
Export and import data were not
available.
Metallic Abrasives
Production.-Nine firms produced
metallic abrasives in 10 plants in 1993.
The quantity and value of steel shot and
grit produced decreased about 2% and
6 %, respectively. The average value per
ton was $389, a 3% decrease compared
with  that  of  1992.     Michigan,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio, in
decreasing order of quantity, supplied the
production of steel shot and grit.
During 1993, two firms, one in


ABRASIVE MATERIALS-1993




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