Editing Magnesium oxide (section)

===Refractory insulator===

MgO is prized as a [[Refractory|refractory material]], i.e. a solid that is physically and chemically stable at high temperatures. It has the useful attributes of high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. According to a 2006 reference book:<ref name="Shand-2006">{{cite book |author=Mark A. Shand |title=The chemistry and technology of magnesia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ShuV4W0V2gC |access-date=10 September 2011 |year=2006 |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |isbn=978-0-471-65603-6}}</ref> 
{{blockquote|By far the largest consumer of magnesia worldwide is the refractory industry, which consumed about 56% of the magnesia in the United States in 2004, the remaining 44% being used in agricultural, chemical, construction, environmental, and other industrial applications.}}

MgO is used as a refractory material for [[crucible]]s. It is also used as an insulator in [[Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable|heat-resistant electrical cable]].