The Difference Between Refractory Bricks and Ordinary Bricks

The bricks we usually use to build houses are ordinary red bricks, and the main purpose of refractory bricks is to build high-temperature furnaces, aluminum melting furnaces, and other high-temperature occasions. Although both are bricks, they are essentially the same. There is a big difference, let’s follow the Xinhongji Refractory today to see what the difference between the two is.

First. The difference in shape and color
From the appearance point of view, except for special-shaped refractory bricks, the shape of general right-angle brick refractory bricks is not much different from that of ordinary bricks, they are all rectangular, but the shapes of refractory special-shaped bricks are different, such as arch foot bricks, anchor bricks, etc., choose according to different usage occasions.

Generally, most ordinary bricks are reddish-brown or gray, and the color changes according to the type of soil used in production. Natural refractory bricks are white, but due to the different metal content in the raw materials, the fired color is also different. Similarly, its colors are brown, moss green, red, and jet black.

Second. Different usage occasions
1. The use occasions of refractory bricks are generally in the construction of high-temperature kilns and firewalls. Generally, the use occasions have very high temperatures, and bricks are required to withstand very high temperatures.

2. Ordinary bricks are often used in the construction of houses.

Third. The difference in material composition
There are many types of refractory bricks, mainly including silicon-aluminum series refractory bricks, alkaline series refractory bricks, carbon-containing refractory bricks, zirconium-containing refractory bricks, heat-insulating refractory bricks, high alumina insulating bricks, etc. Today, we mainly introduce silicon-aluminum refractory bricks, among which silica bricks refer to refractory bricks with a silica content of more than 93%. Fire clay bricks are mainly composed of mullite (25% to 50%), glass phase (25% to 60%), cristobalite, and quartz (up to 30%). The mineral composition of high alumina refractory bricks is corundum, mullite, and glass phase, and its content depends on the ratio of AL2O3/SiO2 and the type and quantity of impurities. The grade of refractory bricks can be divided according to the content of AL2O3. Corundum refractory brick, corundum bricks refer to a kind of refractory brick with Al2O3 content not less than 90% and corundum as the main phase.

Fourth. the difference in refractory temperature
1. Refractory bricks have high refractoriness, and their temperature can reach 1580°C-1770°C, and some refractory bricks with better materials can reach about 1800°C.

2. The temperature that ordinary bricks can withstand is about 1200°C. If the temperature is too high, it is easy to decompose.

Fifth. the difference in thermal conductivity
Chemical additives such as ceramics and iron oxide in refractory bricks can absorb high temperatures but not transmit high temperatures, so refractory bricks can withstand high temperatures, have low thermal conductivity, and have higher energy efficiency and thermal insulation value. Ordinary bricks are not used in very special environments, so it has a high thermal conductivity.