How to judge the quality of refractory bricks
2025-02-07 16:31:07
Refractory bricks are an important component of refractory materials and are widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, electric power, building materials and other industries. Especially in extreme environments such as high temperature, high pressure and strong corrosion, the performance of refractory bricks directly affects the operating efficiency and safety of industrial equipment. Therefore, judging the quality of refractory bricks is crucial to ensure the smooth progress of industrial production. This article will explore how to judge the quality of refractory bricks from multiple aspects.
1. Appearance inspection
Appearance inspection is the first step in judging the quality of refractory bricks. High-quality refractory bricks usually have the following characteristics:
Surface flatness: The surface of refractory bricks should be smooth, without obvious cracks, bubbles, pits or other defects. Bricks with flat surfaces help to be more stable during installation.
Uniform color: The color of refractory bricks is usually related to their materials, and the color of high-quality refractory bricks should be uniform and consistent. If the color of the bricks is uneven or there is a color difference, it may mean that improper control during the production process has affected its performance.
Neat corners: The corners of high-quality refractory bricks should be neat, precise in size, and meet standard size requirements. If the edges are irregular or there are obvious defects in the brick body, it may affect its use effect.
2. Size and density
The size of refractory bricks should meet national or industry standards. Generally, the size of refractory bricks has fixed standards, such as 230×114×65 mm or 300×150×70 mm, etc. The size does not meet the standard will affect the installation effect and cause unstable operation of industrial equipment. In addition, the density of refractory bricks also directly affects its thermal stability and mechanical strength.
Dimensional accuracy: Use calipers or other measuring tools to check whether the length, width, height and diagonal of the refractory bricks meet the standards.
Density determination: Calculate the density by weighing and measuring the volume. High-density refractory bricks usually have better compressive strength and better heat resistance.
3. Compressive strength
Compressive strength is an important indicator for measuring the quality of refractory bricks. The compressive strength of refractory bricks is usually closely related to the composition of the raw materials used, the production process and the sintering process. The higher the compressive strength, the stronger the ability of the refractory brick to withstand external forces in a high temperature environment, and it is not easy to break or damage.
Compressive strength can be measured by laboratory testing. Usually, a compression tester is used to apply pressure to the refractory brick until it breaks, and the maximum pressure value before it breaks is recorded. The compressive strength of refractory bricks that meet the standards should be within the specified range, and the specific values can be referenced according to the standards of different types of refractory bricks.
4. Thermal shock resistance
The thermal shock resistance of refractory bricks refers to whether the refractory bricks can withstand the stress caused by temperature changes when the temperature changes drastically, and avoid cracks or cracks. Refractory bricks with poor thermal shock resistance may crack due to temperature changes in high temperature environments, reducing their service life.
Thermal shock test: After heating the refractory bricks to a high temperature, they are quickly cooled and the cracks on the surface and inside are observed. If cracks or cracks occur, it means that the brick has poor thermal shock resistance.
Temperature change test: The refractory bricks can be heated and cooled at different temperatures to observe whether their structure changes and whether cracks appear.
5. Corrosion resistance
Corrosion resistance is an important indicator to measure whether refractory bricks can remain stable when in contact with chemical substances. Especially in industries such as metallurgy and chemical industry, refractory bricks are often in contact with high-temperature gases or chemically corrosive substances. Good corrosion resistance helps to extend the service life of refractory bricks and reduce equipment maintenance costs.
Chemical corrosion test: By exposing refractory bricks to specific corrosive media, observe whether there are corrosion marks or structural damage on their surface.
Actual use cases: You can refer to the use of refractory bricks in different industries to understand their performance in chemically corrosive environments.
6. Refractory and high temperature resistance
The refractory of refractory bricks refers to the highest temperature they can withstand. Generally speaking, different types of refractory bricks are suitable for environments with different temperature ranges. In high temperature environments, refractory bricks must not only withstand high temperatures, but also maintain their physical and chemical properties stable at high temperatures.
Refractoriness determination: The refractoriness of refractory bricks is determined by professional equipment. The higher the refractoriness, the higher the temperature that the refractory bricks can withstand.
High temperature test: The refractory bricks are subjected to high temperature tests in a heating furnace to observe whether the bricks will expand, crack or lose strength due to heat.
7. Service life and economy
High-quality refractory bricks should have a long service life, and during use, they can reduce the need for frequent replacement and reduce the production cost of the enterprise. The service life of refractory bricks is closely related to its production process, raw material quality, environmental conditions and other factors.
Service life test: By simulating the environment of long-term high-temperature use, the refractory bricks are subjected to accelerated aging tests to determine their stability under long-term high temperatures.
Economic analysis: Combine the price and service life of refractory bricks to evaluate their economy. Although high-quality refractory bricks have a higher initial price, they have a higher cost-effectiveness in the long run.
8. Manufacturer reputation and certification
Choosing refractory bricks produced by manufacturers with good reputation is an important way to ensure their quality. Regular manufacturers usually have perfect production processes, advanced testing equipment and professional technical teams, and can produce high-quality refractory bricks.
Certification and standards: Check whether the refractory bricks meet relevant quality standards, such as ISO certification, national standards, etc.
Manufacturer history and reputation: Choosing manufacturers with many years of production experience and good customer reputation can reduce the risk of purchasing low-quality refractory bricks.
Conclusion
In general, judging the quality of refractory bricks requires consideration from multiple dimensions, including appearance, size, density, compressive strength, thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance, fire resistance, service life and manufacturer reputation. Through scientific testing methods and comprehensive analysis, it is possible to ensure that high-quality refractory bricks that meet the requirements are purchased, providing reliable protection for industrial production. In actual applications, enterprises should choose suitable refractory bricks according to their specific needs, and pay attention to regular inspection and maintenance to extend their service life.