Silica brick is one of the most widely used high temperature refractory materials. Silica brick is a light yellow refractory product made from silica rock that contain at least 90 percent SiO2. It is used primarily in coke ovens and glass furnaces. It is also used in other applications, such as glass tank walls, acid practice electric furnaces, tunnel kilns, and regenerators.
Silica is the main component of silica brick. It occurs in a variety of crystalline modifications, e.g. quartz, tridymite, and cristobalite and also as an under-cooled melt called quartz glass. The crystalline modifications each have a high and low temperature forms which can transform reversibly. The crystal structure of the individual SiO2 modifications can differ widely, so that distinct density changes occur during transformation. This is of great importance during heating and cooling because of the change in the volume.
Quartz requires the smallest volume and the quartz glass the largest. During firing above approximately 900 ℃, quartz transforms into the other modifications and melt completely at 1725℃. During slow cooling, reversible volume decreases take place which are a result of the spontaneous transformation of the crystal structure from the high to the low temperature modification. The reversible and irreversible volume effects can cause considerable stress within the refractory brick structure.
Any common silica brick having large non-transformed silica content is undesirable because it exhibits extraordinary expansion so as to impair stability of industrial furnace which employs such brick as the refractory. Therefore, the extent of transformation of silica is one of very important factors which have to be considered in designing an industrial furnace in regard to selection of material and evaluation of adequateness of the use of the selected material.
Silica brick provides a high temperature resistant and non-reactive lining. It is characterized with its good resistance to spalling at high temperatures. It also retains their rigidity, are lightweight, have a good resistance to most fluxes present in coke ovens, and offer high resistance to abrasion. It has a relatively long lifespan. It is also nonreactive with the melted glass whereas other refractories, such as magnesia brick, could discolor the final product.
Silica brick is used as a refractory in building and repairing industrial furnaces, such as coke ovens, hot blast stoves and glass furnaces. Silica brick crowns have been successfully used in glass furnaces for producing container, float glass, table-ware and TV panel glass. They have the attributes of a relatively long life, excellent insulation at a low cost, and limited defects as silica is the dominant oxide.