Refractories and Fire Bricks

Refractory is the name given to a group of heat resistant materials that are inorganic, non-metallic, porous and heterogeneous in nature. Refractory materials are manufactured using thermally stable mineral aggregates, additives and a binder phase. They are primarily used for insulation and protection of industrial furnaces and vessels. Refractories are attributed with a number of properties that make them ideal for applications involving high temperatures and corrosive environments. The following section elaborates on a few.

Useful Properties Of Refractories

Refractory materials have high melting points varying in the range 3100°– 6300°F. Consequently, they exhibit exceptional thermal stability even at extremely high temperatures.

Dimensional stability is an important characteristic to gauge the usefulness of a Refractory material; it enables proper fitting. Majority of Refractories show good dimensional stability although there are subject to expansion and contraction at elevated temperatures.

The thermal conductivity of Refractory materials varies from low to high. Those with high thermal conductivity find application in coke oven walls, regenerators, and water cooled furnace walls.

Why Are Refractories Required?

As already mentioned Refractories exhibit excellent stability even at extremely high temperatures. At the same time, they can withstand corrosive environment and mechanical damage. These attributes make them an ideal installation in metallurgy industry and for many other applications as well. Here are few specific points regarding the requirement of Refractories.

They can confine heat to a limited area in a furnace.

They are not affected by hot gasses, slag erosion or action of molten metal.

There are no chances of contamination with contacting materials.

Allow conservation of heat.

Uses Of Refractories

These are used in various industrial processes involving extremely high temperatures and corrosive environment. In metallurgy industry, they are used in internal linings of furnaces, kilns, reactors, etc.

Refractories are installed on cracking units, hydrogen reformers, sulphur furnaces, fired heaters, air heaters, ducting sacks, and utility boilers.

Classification Of Refractories

Although, Refractories are classified on several parameters but the broad categorization shows following four types:

Fire-clay bricks

Castables

Ceramic fiber

Insulating bricks

Based in Ahmedabad, J R Refractory manufactures and supplies a wide range of industrial products such as Refractory Bricks, Fire Bricks, Shape Bricks, Refractory Castables, Refractory Mortar, Insulating Bricks, Insulating Castables, Ceramic Blanket, Calcium Silicate Blocks and many others. For more details, you can log on to http://www.firebricks.in/.