High Alumina Bricks for Demanding Furnace Applications

By Admin | September 28, 2026

Under the action of an industrial furnace, ordinary materials can easily lose their strength and stability. Another pressure on the furnace linings may be exerted by high temperatures, thermal cycling, slag, abrasion and contact with melted materials. A suitable refractory brick should adequately protect the lining to enable the equipment to function under these severe conditions.

When the temperature resistance and performance are required to be higher, high alumina bricks are widely used. The various grades of alumina bricks can be matched to certain parts of the furnace and furnace operations. Horizon Refractories provides high alumina refractory bricks for use in various heat industry applications such as steel, cement, chemical and others.

High alumina bricks are refractories with a higher alumina content than traditional fireclay bricks. According to Horizon Refractories, high alumina refractories are available with a range of alumina from approximately 50% to 90% and various grades are designed for various applications.

The effect of higher alumina content may be worthwhile in furnaces subjected to severe conditions, such as high temperature, abrasion and chemical attack. The actual grade required will vary depending on furnace atmosphere, temperature of operation, mechanical load and contact with slag and molten material.

A furnace lining is exposed to more heat than you think. Thermal stress may be caused by repeated application of heat and cooling, and slag and molten materials may steadily impact the surface of the refractories. In application systems where the brick must be able to withstand shape changes and strength losses while operating, it is necessary to use a stronger brick.

The high alumina grades are formulated for those applications. They can provide good volume stability, thermal shock resistance and corrosion and abrasion resistance. These properties make them appropriate for application in those areas where normal refractory may not meet the required performance.

High alumina bricks have been applied in several parts of industrial heating equipment. Depending on the grade, applications can include blast furnaces, furnace stoves, steel ladles, reheat furnaces, soaking pits and annealing furnaces. Higher grades can also be utilised in the challenging steelmaking and petrochemical markets.

For instance, Horizon Refractories offers HA-60 grades for reheat furnace walls, bottoms and roofs, and HA-70 grades for steel ladle working linings. Higher alumina grades (HA-80) are qualified for RF, VAD and VOD applications.

Not all high alumina bricks can be used in all furnaces. The following properties are not necessarily the same for different grades: alumina percentage, bulk density, apparent porosity, cold crushing strength, refractoriness under load and service temperature.

The setting of the furnace is also important. The brick employed in a wall can have different needs than a brick exposed directly to molten metal or slag. The whole operating environment should be taken into consideration to ensure that the grade isn't too low or too high for the application.

As an experienced refractory brick manufacturer, Horizon Refractories has a wide range of high alumina grades as well as customised specifications. It can be produced with alumina content, iron content, density, porosity and other requirements for products. Specific lining applications can be obtained in standard and special shapes.

High alumina bricks have great application value in furnace parts that are subjected to high temperature, thermal stress, abrasion and harsh operating conditions. There are a variety of grades available for a variety of applications, and it is important to choose the appropriate grade for a reliable lining. Horizon Refractories is known for providing high alumina refractory solutions to address the most challenging industrial needs. For those businesses seeking quality refractory brick manufacturers, contact us to discuss which grades of refractory brick could be appropriate to your needs, shapes and specifications.