Corundum Brick: High-Purity Refractory for Extreme Industrial Conditions

Corundum brick is a high-performance refractory product designed for furnaces and thermal systems operating under extreme temperature, load, and chemical stress. With alumina (Al₂O₃) content typically above 90%, corundum brick is characterized by exceptional refractoriness, strong resistance to slag corrosion, and long-term structural stability. These properties make corundum brick a core lining material in industries where conventional refractory bricks cannot meet performance requirements.

The production of corundum brick relies on high-purity fused corundum or sintered alumina as the primary raw material, combined with optimized binders and advanced firing technology. Through high-pressure forming and ultra-high-temperature sintering, corundum brick achieves a dense microstructure with low porosity and strong crystal bonding. This structure is fundamental to the outstanding durability of corundum brick in aggressive service environments.

One of the most notable characteristics of corundum brick is its extremely high refractoriness and load softening temperature. Corundum brick maintains mechanical strength and dimensional accuracy even at temperatures exceeding 1700°C, allowing it to perform reliably in furnace hot zones, burner areas, and slag lines. This thermal stability significantly reduces deformation, collapse risk, and unplanned shutdowns in continuous high-temperature operations.

Corundum brick also demonstrates excellent resistance to chemical corrosion. In metallurgical and chemical furnaces, molten slag, alkali vapors, and reactive gases can rapidly degrade lower-grade refractories. Due to its high alumina purity and dense structure, corundum brick resists penetration and reaction with acidic and alkaline slags, extending lining life and reducing maintenance frequency. This advantage is particularly important in steel ladles, refining furnaces, and non-ferrous metal smelting units.

Mechanical strength is another key benefit of corundum brick. The compact crystal structure provides high cold crushing strength and abrasion resistance, allowing corundum brick to withstand mechanical impact from raw materials, molten metal flow, and equipment vibration. In rotary kilns, ladle working linings, and high-wear furnace zones, corundum brick delivers reliable performance under combined thermal and mechanical stress.

Thermal shock resistance is carefully optimized in modern corundum brick formulations. Although high-alumina materials are traditionally sensitive to rapid temperature change, controlled grain size distribution and optimized firing processes improve stress distribution within the brick. As a result, corundum brick can tolerate repeated heating and cooling cycles more effectively than standard dense refractories.

Corundum brick is widely applied in iron and steel production, including blast furnaces, steel ladles, tundishes, and electric arc furnaces. In the cement industry, corundum brick is used in kiln transition zones and burner areas exposed to severe abrasion and chemical attack. It also plays an important role in glass furnaces, petrochemical reactors, waste incinerators, and advanced ceramic kilns.

Proper installation is essential to fully realize the advantages of corundum brick. Matching refractory mortar, precise bricklaying, and controlled drying and heating procedures help prevent thermal stress and ensure long-term lining stability. When correctly installed and operated, corundum brick provides extended campaign life and improved operational efficiency.

With increasing demands for higher productivity, longer service cycles, and reduced downtime, corundum brick continues to be a trusted refractory solution for critical high-temperature applications. Its combination of purity, strength, and resistance to extreme conditions makes corundum brick an indispensable material in modern industrial furnace engineering.