What's the difference between insulating fire brick and regular brick?

With the development of social economy, people put forward higher requirements for refractories. Therefore, the refractory industry, which relies on extensive economic growth for a long time, should be adjusted to meet the needs of the new situation. However, before adjusting, we should fully understand the products of insulating fire brick in order to better tap their value. Next, by comparing with ordinary bricks, we can let more people understand the advantages of insulating refractory bricks, so as to better develop them.

The analysis points are as follows:

♦ What is insulated refractory brick

♦ What is the difference between insulated refractory bricks and ordinary bricks?

♦ Forming and firing of insulating refractory bricks

♦ Conclusion

What is insulated refractory brick

The thermal insulation fireproof brick (IFB) belongs to the thermal insulation brick group. IFB is a kind of formed refractory product. Its application temperature is higher than 800 C, and its total porosity is more than 45%. The fireproof brick has low thermal conductivity and low thermal storage. They can be used as hot surfaces or as backing insulation for compact bricks. The range of insulating refractory bricks is from grade 23 to grade 32. Insulating fire brick are mainly used in shuttle kiln, tunnel kiln or laboratory kiln. Other applications include heat treatment furnaces and petrochemical plants, such as reformers/crackers or combustion chamber linings.

What is the difference between insulated refractory bricks and ordinary bricks?

Firebricks are blocks of refractory ceramic materials used to line fireplaces, fire boxes and furnaces. They are different from regular masonry bricks because of their ability to withstand temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. The chemical composition of dense firebricks is different from that of regular bricks. The color, shape and thermal conductivity of firebricks and regular bricks are also different.

(1) Temperatures
Firebricks contain refractory properties. They are also known as fireplace bricks. They are used in building cooking chambers in wood-fired ovens, fire boxes and for creating fireplaces. They are also used to line small or large industrial furnaces. They are heavy and have low porosity. Regular, or masonry, bricks, on the other hand, are more porous. Ordinary bricks begin to decompose at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.

(2) Composition
The chemical composition of a firebrick includes 23 percent alumina and 73 percent silica. Ferric oxide, titanium and other metallic oxides form the remaining portion. The major chemical composition of regular brick is silica, alumina, magnesia, lime, iron oxide and alkalies. If more or less than the required amount of any of these constituents exist, it may cause serious damage to the brick. The composition is lightly bonded in the case of regular bricks, whereas firebricks are much more dense.

(3) Color and Shape
The firebrick is naturally white. Stains are mixed into the slurry to tint the brick during the manufacturing process. Some of the more popular colors include espresso, mossy green, red and jet black. The color allows the bricks to match the surrounding applications in the same way regular bricks are manufactured in different colors. The color of regular bricks varies according to the type of soil used. Firebricks are uniformly rectangular, while regular bricks may be unevenly shaped.


(4) Thermal Conductivity
Thermal conductivity of regular bricks is much higher than with fire bricks. Firebricks can withstand high temperature because the ceramic, ferric oxide and other chemical additives absorb, and do not transfer, high temperatures. The low thermal conductivity offers greater energy efficiency and insulating value. Dense firebricks are therefore used in environments with extreme mechanical or thermal stress. A wood-fired kiln or a furnace are some of the applications that require firebricks. The denser properties also give the brick greater resistance to damage from abrasion. Regular bricks are not suited for these applications.

Forming and firing of insulating refractory bricks

It is optional to mix raw materials with burnout materials for drying or water addition. The amount of water depends on the forming process. Bricks are formed by casting, polishing, extrusion or dry pressing. For the casting process, large moulds and blocks/hoppers are used. Casting compounds are directly processed after mixing. Water-bound raw materials extract water from slurry and support the solidification of billet. The process can be accelerated by adding gypsum or cement. Because of the high moisture content, the drying of green billet takes quite a long time. This method can produce light bricks with high porosity. In addition, foam or foaming agent can be added to increase the amount of pores.

The sloshing process is a continuous process in which the mass wanders on a large die or conveyor belt. This method can produce high density insulating refractory bricks.

The slurry used in the extrusion process is ground after mixing. Water-soluble materials can be saturated with water until uniform moisture is achieved in the mixture. Then the material is extruded through the blower, cut into a certain size and dried.

Dry pressure is usually carried out uniaxially. The pressing method is suitable for producing high density bricks.

The typical structure of insulating refractory bricks is caused by forming process and pore agent.

Refractory bricks are burned in shuttle or tunnel kilns. The firing temperature is equal to the specified grading temperature. Refractory bricks shrink during drying and firing. They must be cut and ground to the final size after firing.

Conclusion

With the continuous improvement of China's opening to the outside world and the increasing awareness of energy conservation, the demand for insulating refractory bricks is increasing, which requires us to constantly discover new products. If you want to buy suitable insulated refractory bricks, please choose us, our company is committed to the production of refractory bricks and other refractories. If you have any questions, please ask us in time.