A Detailed Comparison: Common Bricks and Fire Clay Bricks
We all know that bricks have been the most fundamental construction components used worldwide for centuries. Back then, the bricks were simple and made from natural materials (i.e., clay, mud, etc.). However, as time passed, the bricks became more advanced and were used in various harsh industrial and other construction operations. Although all the bricks may look similar at first, each type has its unique properties and applications. Out of the many effective refractory bricks, common bricks and fire clay bricks are the popular ones.
Do you think common (conventional) bricks and fire clay bricks are the same? If so, this article will give you insights into the major differences. By the end of it, you will get a clarity on the performance, and ideal applications of both types of bricks.
Raw Materials Used & Composition
Common Bricks: The bricks are primarily made up of natural clay blended with water content. Many times, other additives are also introduced (like sand, lime, etc.). Even though this type of traditional bricks is produced by using basic clay minerals, they do not possess any special features that make them useful in challenging conditions.
Fire Clay Bricks: Conversely, the fire clay bricks also known as high alumina bricks are made up of mineral-rich clay materials with the composition of alumina, silicon dioxide, and many important compounds. The composition makes the brick structure robust for high-temperature settings and other harsh industrial environments.
Manufacturing Process (Firing Temperatures)
Common Bricks: Generally, these types of bricks are manufactured at lower temperatures (between 900°C to 1100°C). This firing process makes the bricks stronger but they are only chosen for non-load-bearing walls or minimal heat industrial conditions.
Fire Clay Bricks: Unlike common bricks, these bricks are produced at higher temperature levels (up to 1500°C), improving their thermal shocks and extreme temperature-withstanding capacity.
Mechanical Strength
Common Bricks: They possess low CCS (Cold Crushing Strength) in between 3 – 10 MPa. This property makes them unreliable for heavy-load industrial applications. The common bricks are only suited for regular wall constructions.
Fire Clay Bricks: On the other hand, fire clay refractory bricks showcase CCS of 25 – 45 MPa. It makes them the perfect choice for industrial constructions to withstand the internal pressures of extreme heat chambers.
Various Applications
Common Bricks: As the name suggests, these types of bricks are only manufactured for general purposes like residential and commercial building constructions.
Fire Clay Bricks: These bricks are specifically designed while considering their applications in industrial structures. Majorly, fire clay bricks are used in boiler insulation, fireplaces, chimneys, furnaces, kilns, etc.
Cost Factor
Common Bricks: These traditional bricks are readily available and can be found easily at minimal costs. People purchase them in bulk to use for mass housing and general construction purposes.
Fire Clay Bricks: On the other hand, clay fire bricks are more expensive than common ones as they are manufactured with specific care. Although the cost is high, this type of bricks offer long-term operational consistency in extreme surroundings, making them best-suited for severe industrial applications.
We are sure that you got your answers through this post. Either you should opt for common bricks or fire clay bricks for your requirements. If you need bricks for general construction of houses, apartments, and commercial buildings, conventional bricks are considerable. But, if you require bricks for high-heat and other extreme condition industrial applications, fire clay bricks are non-negotiable.
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