Refractory bricks protect furnace structures and sustain industrial processes that expose materials to high temperatures, mechanical loads, reactive gases, and molten products. Their suitability depends on the interaction between composition, bonding, microstructure, and operating conditions. This narrative review examines the principal refractory brick families, their manufacturing routes, and the criteria governing their selection for high-temperature furnaces, with particular attention to glass production. Peer-reviewed studies, refractory handbooks, and official descriptions of material classification and testing standards are synthesized within an IMRAD structure. The review distinguishes refractoriness from resistance to deformation under load, creep, corrosion, and thermal cycling. It also differentiates the functions of dense working linings, insulating backup layers, and bricks used for sensible heat storage. The synthesis shows that refractory selection requires a coordinated assessment of the crystalline phases, bond system, pore structure, furnace atmosphere, and expected failure mechanisms. Phosphate bonding offers useful processing options, but its performance remains composition- and temperature-dependent. In glass furnaces, silica, alumina-based, and alumina–zirconia–silica refractories serve different duties and must be evaluated against both lining wear and glass quality requirements. A service-specific selection approach is proposed to connect material characterization, representative testing, installation, and post-service examination. The review provides a practical basis for material selection and identifies the experimental evidence needed for furnace-specific qualification.
Refractory Bricks for High-Temperature Furnaces: Materials, Manufacturing, And Selection Criteria
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References
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