October 22, 2025
Among advanced refractory materials, corundum brick stands out as one of the most durable and thermally stable options available today. Manufactured from high-purity alumina (Al₂O₃) or fused corundum, these bricks are engineered to perform under the harshest industrial conditions — where extreme temperatures, mechanical wear, and chemical corrosion coexist.
The main component of corundum brick is α-Al₂O₃, known for its exceptional hardness, stability, and resistance to deformation under high temperatures. Depending on the production method and application, corundum bricks are divided into:
Sintered corundum bricks — made by pressing and sintering calcined alumina under high temperature.
Fused corundum bricks — formed by melting alumina in an electric arc furnace, then casting and cooling to create a dense crystalline structure.
Chrome-corundum and zircon-corundum bricks — enhanced with Cr₂O₃ or ZrO₂ for improved slag and thermal shock resistance.
The resulting material exhibits a compact microstructure, minimal porosity, and exceptional load-bearing capacity, even at temperatures above 1700°C.
Corundum bricks are recognized for their superior thermal, mechanical, and chemical performance.
1. Outstanding High-Temperature Strength
Corundum has a melting point near 2050°C, allowing these bricks to maintain stability and shape far beyond the limits of conventional refractories.
2. Excellent Wear and Erosion Resistance
The high hardness of alumina provides exceptional resistance to abrasion, slag erosion, and molten metal attack — ideal for harsh smelting or refining operations.
3. Low Creep and Dimensional Stability
Even under continuous thermal load, corundum bricks exhibit minimal creep deformation, ensuring long-term performance in high-stress environments.
4. Strong Chemical Inertness
They resist corrosion by most acids, alkalis, and metal slags, maintaining structural integrity even in reactive atmospheres.
5. Good Thermal Shock Resistance
Through optimized grain bonding and low porosity, corundum bricks withstand rapid temperature changes with reduced cracking risk.
The versatility and resilience of corundum brick make it indispensable across multiple high-temperature industries:
Steelmaking: Used in blast furnace linings, slide gates, tundish nozzles, and ladle walls, where resistance to molten steel and slag erosion is essential.
Non-Ferrous Metallurgy: Applied in copper and aluminum melting furnaces, zinc distillation equipment, and induction furnace linings for their high corrosion resistance.
Glass Industry: Utilized in glass tank regenerators, feeder channels, and melting zones, where purity and stability are critical.
Cement and Lime Kilns: Installed in burning zones and transition areas exposed to abrasive clinker and fluctuating thermal loads.
Petrochemical Furnaces: Serve as protective linings for reformers, gasifiers, and incinerators, resisting aggressive chemical environments.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Al₂O₃ Content | ≥ 90–99% |
| Bulk Density | 2.8–3.2 g/cm³ |
| Cold Crushing Strength | ≥ 80 MPa |
| Refractoriness Under Load (°C) | ≥ 1700 |
| Thermal Conductivity (1000°C) | 5.5–7.0 W/m·K |
| Apparent Porosity | ≤ 16% |
For optimal performance, corundum bricks should be installed using high-alumina or corundum-based refractory mortar to ensure chemical and thermal compatibility. Controlled heating and gradual temperature ramp-up after installation help reduce internal stress and prevent early cracking.
Maintenance cycles are typically extended compared to other materials due to the bricks’ exceptional resistance to wear and chemical attack, translating to lower operational downtime and overall cost savings.
Corundum brick represents the pinnacle of refractory performance — a material designed for the most demanding thermal environments. Its combination of superior hardness, chemical inertness, and dimensional stability ensures unmatched reliability in furnaces, kilns, and reactors where failure is not an option.
For engineers seeking long-lasting solutions in extreme conditions, corundum brick provides not just protection, but enduring performance that defines modern refractory excellence.
