Refractory Fire Bricks - Kiln Bricks - Characteristics (2024)

A fire brick is a block of refractory ceramic material used in lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. A refractory brick is designed mainly to withstand high heat, but should also usually have a low thermal conductivity to save energy. Usually dense bricks are used in applications with extreme mechanical, chemical, or thermal stresses, such as the inside of a wood-fired kiln or a furnace, which is subject to abrasion from wood, fluxing from ash or slag, and high temperatures. Dense refractory bricks have a high thermal mass which is sometimes a useful property in that they will retain heat eg in a pizza oven after the fire has been taken out. Kiln bricks are made by firing a clay based composition in the kiln until it is partly vitrified, and for special purposes may also be glazed. Refractory bricks usually contain 30-40% alumina and the primary raw material is usually chamotte with other materials. The maximum service temperature increases with increasing alumina content and kiln bricks can be obtained with an alumina content of 80% and above.

Refractory Fire Bricks - Kiln Bricks - Characteristics (1)

Less dense refractory bricks

In other, less harsh situations, such as a natural gas fired kiln, more porous bricks are a better choice, usually referred to as Insulation Bricks. They are weaker, but they are much lighter, easier to form, and insulate far better than dense bricks. In this case they have a low thermal mass and so cannot be used to store heat. Insulation bricks have a better thermal shock resistance than dense firebricks but the main disadvantage is their low strength. The insulation property of these bricks usually comes from perlite or vermiculite. As with the dense refractory bricks there is a range of grades corresponding to different maximum service temperatures. The most common is Grade 23 – 1260oC.

Refractory Fire Bricks - Kiln Bricks - Characteristics (2024)

FAQs

What is the quality of refractory bricks? ›

Application-specific performance: Refractory bricks are designed for specific high-temperature applications and environments, offering better performance in terms of wear, corrosion because of direct contact with the corrosive media, and thermal resistance.

What are the basic refractory bricks consists of? ›

Basic Refractory Bricks

Basic refractory bricks are the ones which mostly consist of basic oxides such as magnesia (MgO) and dolomite (a combination of calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(CO3)2). Such materials have a very high melting point and have excellent resistance to alkaline substances.

What are the advantages of refractory bricks? ›

A refractory brick can absorb 5 to 10% of water. Refractory bricks are resistant to high temperatures, have a high fusion point, and have exceptional compressive strength. Each cubic foot of fire bricks weighs 150 lbs.

What are the four characteristics of good brick? ›

Bricks should be uniform in color, size and shape. Standard size of brick should be maintained. They should be sound and compact. They should be free from cracks and other flaws such as air bubbles, stone nodules etc.

What are the desirable characteristics of refractory ceramics? ›

The main properties of ceramic refractories include the capacity to withstand high temperatures without melting or decomposing and the capacity to remain unreactive and inert when exposed to severe environments.

What is the difference between fire brick and refractory brick? ›

A fire brick is a block of refractory ceramic material used in lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. A refractory brick is designed mainly to withstand high heat, but should also usually have a low thermal conductivity to save energy.

What is the difference between refractory bricks and normal bricks? ›

Because firebrick, also known as refractory brick or heat-resistant brick, is made of materials like alumina and silica, it can retain its integrity even after exposure to extreme temperatures. Common brick has some moderate heat-resistance, but cannot withstand high temperatures without deterioration.

How much heat can a refractory brick take? ›

These bricks are made from a special type of ceramic which can withstand high temperatures without damage. A typical brick could start to break apart at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit (~ 649 degrees Celsius), but a refractory brick will handle heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (~982 degrees Celsius).

How thick is a refractory brick? ›

The ideal lining thickness for a rotary kiln has always been a matter of controversy. As a matter of fact, there are very large kilns lined with 200mm brick and small kilns lined with 220mm brick.

Are refractory bricks acidic or basic? ›

Acidic refractory's key feature is its ability to withstand acid slag erosion at high temperatures, but it is more prone to react with alkaline slag. Alumina, silica zirconia refractories, and fire clay bricks refractory are alkaline refractories.

What is a refractory fire brick? ›

A fire brick, firebrick, fireclay brick, or refractory brick is a block of ceramic material used in lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. A refractory brick is built primarily to withstand high temperature, but will also usually have a low thermal conductivity for greater energy efficiency.

What is the shelf life of refractory bricks? ›

Depending on the composition of the material, most refractory materials have a shelf life ranging from six to twelve months.

What are the defects of refractory bricks? ›

The main firing defects of refractory bricks are under-burning, over-fired, damaged, spots, cracked, etc.

What are the characteristics of refractory metals? ›

Refractory metals are a broad category of metallic materials that display excellent durability to thermal and mechanical stress. Their shared properties include resistance to corrosion and wear, high melting points, retention of mechanical strength at high temperatures, and high hardness at room temperature.

What are the desirable properties of refractory materials? ›

Refractory materials, by definition, are supposed to be resistant to heat and are exposed to different degrees of mechanical stress and strain, thermal stress and strain, corrosion/erosion from solids, liquids and gases, gas diffusion, and mechanical abrasion at various temperatures.

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