There is a long history of the usage of fire bricks by humans. It is not a new concept, but modern-day fire bricks are advanced with more fire-resisting features and advanced raw materials. So let’s discuss refractory fire bricks, their types, and how to choose the best of them.
What are Refractory Bricks?
Refractory bricks are one type of brick that can resist high temperatures without melting or becoming soft. It is made up of natural and synthetic materials, which are mostly non-metallic. It is a combination of compounds and minerals such as alumina, bauxite, fireclay, dolomite, chromite, magnesite, zirconia, etc.
Refractory bricks work as insulating fire bricks. They are used mostly in manufacturing industries for lining kilns, furnaces, and fireboxes. Domestic utilities include fireplace lining and chimney linings in households.
Are you searching for a material to line furnaces and ovens? Then you are at the right place. Refractory Bricks are the material best suited for your needs, and Ganesha Manufacturers is one of the leading manufacturers of all types of refractory materials.
Types of Refractory Bricks
To begin with the types of fire bricks, we can say that there are mainly three types of refractory bricks. How much temperature can a fire brick resist? And the bricks are a combination of various chemicals; which are they? All this interesting and useful information we will discuss is below.
1. Acid Refractory Bricks
As the name suggests, these types of bricks are acid-resistant. The general use of these bricks is to resist the acidic actions of chemicals or weather. For acid resistance, an extra amount of silica is added to the fireclay(97% of the composition). Ordinary fire bricks, silica bricks, and ganister bricks are subtypes of acid refractory bricks.
Ordinary fire bricks are made up of a mixture of sand and crushed clay. In addition to that, It can resist up to 1600’ C temperature. Silica bricks have 95% silica and they are a combination of sandstone and quartzite. The resistance power is 2000’ recommended for the lining surfaces for glass production. Ganister blocks are rigid and compact and can resist up to 2100’C.
2. Basic refractory bricks
These are not only corrosion-resistant but also chemical-resistant bricks. Magnesia is a key component of it. Lime is a binding agent here. Other versions include magnesite bricks, magnesia carbon, and magnesia chrome bricks. Magnesite bricks consist of 85 % of magnesium oxide, used for the lining of furnaces. It can resist up to 1800 – 2100’C temperatures.
Dolomite brick is a type of basic refractory brick. It is a cheap substitute for magnesia bricks. Resistance power is 1400 to 1600’C. Bauxite consists of 86% bauxite and resists up to 1600’C.
3. Neutral Refractory Bricks.
Suitable for both – acidic and basic lining purposes. It segregates the acid and acts as a basic lining of the furnace. Chromite bricks are made from 50% of chrome iron ore, 30% iron oxide, and 20% bauxite.
A special variety of neutral refractory brick Carborundum. Fire clay and silicon carbide are special ingredients of this brick. Resist up to 1900’C. Spinal bricks are a mixture of alumina and magnesia.
Important Things To Know About Refractory Bricks
- The chemical composition is a determining factor of fire brick. Apart from that, It is a tool to decide the quality and characteristics of the refractory.
- Bulk Density is a requisite feature of fire bricks. Weight unit volume and density are large and show great thermal conductivity.
- Manufacturers avoid bricks that have a large amount of porosity. Refractory bricks are non-porous.
- Temperature resistance is the main feature of any fire brick. In addition to that, It is a high-temperature load that starts up to a higher level of deformation temperature.
- Above all, Fire bricks are also thermal shockproof
Parameters to choose good quality fire bricks
- You should opt for the fire brick which has a low level of thermal conductivity.
- For energy conservation purposes, you should go for the fire bricks, which have high porosity
- In manufacturing units where crushing chemicals or materials is a regular task, insulating bricks are the best choice.
- Some fire bricks not only have fire resistance but also have low-temperature storage
- If you have a precise dimension of a brick and it is available in that particular size, then go for it.
- Always choose bricks that have smooth and flat surfaces because if you select curved-shaped bricks, the gaps created by curves result in uneven cooking and also act as cooling spots.
- For choosing the bricks for the oven floor, it is advisable to go for straight or rectangular-shaped bricks. It will fit tightly together and give you an even oven floor.
- Instead of opting for low-quality fire bricks, choose medium or heavy-duty fire bricks for fireplace liners.
- For the basic construction, you may decide to line an affordable quality fire brick that fulfills the purpose.
Conclusion
You should first determine the function of the brick if you want to get the best refractory bricks for any project. For example, cooking and heating is a process that requires medium-grade fire bricks. Refractory bricks are different from regular red clay bricks, and they have more heat retention than normal red clay bricks.
Refractories are an essential facet of a production unit, much as salt is a necessary component of every cuisine. We can say that the manufacturing industry can not survive without refractory fire bricks.
For more information on refractory materials, visit Ganesha’s – Manufacturers of Advances Industrial Machinery. We offer high-quality refractory metal at a very competitive price.
