Refractory

A refractory is a heat-resistant material used to line furnaces and other high-temperature equipment. It retains its structure and function under high temperatures and, often, chemical attack.

Fire clay: A clay rich in kaolinite that hardens when fired and is used to make heat-resistant ceramics. It is a common raw material for aluminosilicate refractory bricks.
Refractoriness under load: A measure of how well a refractory maintains shape under a specified load at high temperature. It captures the combined effects of heat and mechanical stress in service.
Blast furnace: A tall furnace that reduces iron ore with carbon monoxide and produces molten iron. Its hearth and walls use refractory linings exposed to intense heat and ironmaking slags.
Refractory brick: A shaped ceramic unit designed to withstand high temperatures and furnace environments. Brick is a discrete, preformed alternative to monolithic refractory installation.
Furnace efficiency: The proportion of a furnace's energy input that performs useful heating or processing. A lining's thermal losses influence the energy required to maintain operating temperature.
Alumina: Aluminum oxide, a hard ceramic compound used in abrasives, refractories, and other high-temperature applications. Its high melting point and chemical stability make it a basis for many refractories.
Creep (deformation): The gradual deformation of a material under sustained stress, especially at elevated temperature. Long-term creep can distort a lining even when it remains below its melting point.
Basic oxygen steelmaking: A steelmaking process that refines molten iron by blowing oxygen through it. Its basic, lime-rich slag requires chemically compatible converter refractories.
Castable refractory: A refractory mixture that is placed wet and hardens in place after installation. Castables form linings without laying individual bricks.
Refractory wear: The gradual loss or damage of refractory material during equipment operation. Wear determines lining life and helps set inspection and replacement schedules.

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