The Difference Between Refractory Mud, Refractory Cement, and Refractory Castables

Refractory mud, refractory cement, and refractory castables are all unshaped refractory materials and are commonly used in the refractory industry. Refractory mud is used for building refractory bricks. Refractory mud is also called refractory clay or joint material. Used as joint material for refractory masonry. Refractory cement is a material for making refractory concrete. Refractory castables are made of refractory aggregates, powders, and binders. They are also called castables because of the pouring construction.

1. Refractory Mud
Refractory mud can be divided into clay, high alumina, siliceous, and magnesia refractory mud according to materials. It is composed of refractory powder, binder, and admixture. General refractory clay, which is made from refractory clinker powder and an appropriate amount of plastic clay as a binding agent and plasticizer, has low strength at room temperature and has higher strength only when it forms a ceramic bond at high temperatures. The particle size of refractory mud varies according to application requirements. Its ultimate particle size is generally less than 1mm, and some are less than 0.5mm or finer. The materials used for refractory mortar should be considered together with the materials for masonry refractory products. In addition to being used as a joint material, refractory mud can also be used as a protective coating for the lining using the modification method or the spray method. ​

2. Refractory Cement
Refractory cement is also called aluminate cement. Aluminate cement is a hydraulic cementitious material made from bauxite and limestone as raw materials, clinker with calcium aluminate as the main component and an alumina content of about 50%, and then ground. Aluminate cement is often yellow or brown, but also gray. Used for lining industrial kilns.

3. Refractory Castables
Refractory castable is an unshaped refractory material that is widely produced and used today. It is mainly used to construct various heating furnace linings and other integral structures. Certain premium varieties are also used in smelting furnaces. For example, aluminate cement refractory castables can be widely used in various heating furnaces and other thermal equipment without slag and acid and alkali corrosion. In parts that are corroded by molten iron, molten steel, and molten slag and have high operating temperatures, such as tap troughs, steel ladles, blast furnace shafts, tap troughs, etc., in metallurgical furnaces and other areas that are in direct contact with molten slag and molten metal. Repairing some parts of the container with high-quality phosphate refractory castables also has good results.

From the above, we can see that although the three products are all amorphous refractory materials, their uses are very different, and each product is divided into different models and types, so you can consult professional technicians when purchasing. , choose the appropriate product to avoid delaying the construction period and causing unnecessary losses.