The largest consumer sectors for iron oxide pigments are the construction and coatings industries. The rise and fall of these two industries and changes in demand directly control the region's consumption situation.In recent years, iron oxide used only in colored mortars has exceeded 7,000 tons per year.In addition to the paving materials, western European concrete roof tiles, concrete prefabricated parts, concrete blocks, colored bricks, colored mortar, etc. also require a large amount of iron oxide pigments.Influenced by the European style in North America and Canada, the consumption structure of iron oxide is similar to that of Europe. Canada and Australia iron oxide pigments are also mainly used in the construction industry. 60% of iron oxides are used in building materials.For example, 30,000 tons of the 50,000 tons consumed in the United States each year are used in the construction industry; iron oxides used in concrete flooring materials in Britain are growing at an alarming rate. 65% of Canadian iron oxide products are used in the country's concrete industry and 10% are used in colored concrete mortar. Of the 20,000 tonnes of Australian iron oxide pigments traded annually, their demand fluctuates with the number of new buildings.Affected by the European market in the United States in recent years, the consumption of iron oxide pigments in the construction industry has continued to increase with the rapid development of the industry, and the annual consumption of synthetic iron oxide is about 40,000 to 50,000 tons. The iron oxide in the United States is mainly used in concrete paving blocks (about 15% to 20%) in the building materials sector. A large number of colored concrete products are made of iron oxide red, yellow, brown, and black. Used in house construction, iron oxide brown and iron oxide black are the most important building material colorants in China. In short, the foreign iron oxide consumer market, whether it is an existing market or a potential market, is mainly controlled by the demand for colored building materials.

In China, most of the iron oxide pigments are also used in building materials. Mainly suitable for the coloring of various building structures and concrete products as follows:

1. Colored concrete products series:

Such as concrete colored tiles, colored concrete floor tiles (pavement tiles, permeable bricks, grass-planting bricks, retaining soil bricks, etc.), colored concrete blocks (split blocks, wall blocks, cultural stones, etc.)

2. Color cement series

3. In-situ color concrete series.

4. Color dry powder mortar series:

For example, color hardeners, color caulking agents, color spray mortars, and color self-leveling cements for press floors and wear-resistant floors.

5. Artificial stone series:

Such as artificial marble, artificial granite, artificial sandstone, terrazzo, etc.

6. Color paste series:

Water-based colorant for concrete or architectural coatings, oily colorant for epoxy flooring or polyurethane floor coatings

7. Others: color release powder, colored sand.

Because of its good weather resistance, alkali resistance and light resistance (these properties are not possessed by other inorganic pigments or organic pigments), iron oxide pigments are used as colorants in building materials, and the amount is limited in concrete products Below 10%. (The amount of natural products can exceed some.) Exceeding the high limit will reduce the mechanical strength of the product and affect the setting time. Generally, it is suitable to be 4 to 8%. At the same time, the iron oxide pigment does not contain cobalt and zinc oxide, so it will not affect the setting time and setting strength.

With the booming construction market, the amount of iron oxide pigments is also increasing.