Refractory materials

According to DIN 51060, these are materials which have a Seger cone drop point greater than SK 17 (about 1500°C), but this definition has practically no meaning. In general, refractory materials are ceramic materials that are used permanently at temperatures above 600°C.

The materials are grouped in oxidic or non-oxidic refractory materials. Oxidic materials are mostly based on SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, CaO, ZrO₂ and Cr₂O₃. The most important non-oxidic refractory materials are carbon or carbides and nitrides for special applications.

The materials are distinguished in:

• unshaped products (e.g. refractory castables)
• shaped products (e.g. refractory firebricks)
• heat-insulating products (for example high temperature wool)
• functional products (e.g. kiln furniture)

High temperature insulation

High temperature insulation products are used in industrial applications to minimize the heat/energy loss.

These insulation materials have a porosity >45%. High and fine porosity leads to low thermal conductivity. We dedicate a complete page on thermal conductivity later (work is in progress).

The most important types of high temperature insulation materials are:

• thermal insulation bricks (kieselguhr, vermiculite, perlite, refractory bricks)
• lightweight refractory castables
• mineral wool products
• high temperature wool – HTW (aluminum silicate wool, alkaline earth silicate wool, polycrystalline wool) and products thereof
• Calcium silicate materials
• microporous materials [and aerogels].

insulation material	bulk density	application temperature	thermal conductivity in W/mK
	kg/m³	°C	400°C	800°C	1000°C
insulating fire bricks	480-1500	900-1800	0,13-1,3	0,18-1,2	0,23-1,1
lightweight refractory castable	400-1500	900-1400	0,13-1,3	0,18-1,2	0,4-1,1
insulation bricks (Vermiculite, Perlite Kieselguhr)	350-700	650-1000	0,12-0,25	0,17-0,30
HT-Wool	64-450	600-1800	0,08-0,45	0,15-0,45	0,3-0,65
Calciumsilicate	200-1500	RT-1000°C	0,10-0,50	0,12-0,45
Mikroporous/[Aerogels]	150-450	RT-1000°C [600°C]	0,03	0,04	0,05
Mineral wool	65-400	RT-650°C	0,06-0,10

Which insulation materials are used is usually determined by the application. Operating temperature, chemical resistance and system operation (temperature change) specify the type of insulation material. The differences between the thermal insulation products are illustrated by a comparison of typical thermal conductivities.

The materials differ not only in thermal conductivity but also in other properties (bulk density, strength, thermal shock resistance, chemical resistance). More information about high temperature insulation materials can be found on this website. We explain important features, advantages and disadvantages.