Curved firebricks—also known as curved refractory bricks, arch bricks, or shaped fireclay/alumina bricks—are essential refractory components used in high-temperature industrial furnaces that require circular, arch, dome, or cylindrical structures. Their curved geometry allows furnaces and kilns to maintain structural stability under high thermal load while minimizing stress concentrations typically found in straight-lined refractory designs.
With excellent refractoriness, corrosion resistance, thermal shock performance, and mechanical strength, curved firebricks are widely applied in steel, petrochemical, ceramics, non-ferrous metal smelting, and energy industries.
1. High temperature resistance
2. Good wear resistance
3. Weakly acidic at high temperatures
4. Strong erosion resistance
5. Good volume stability
6. Low prices
Used for lining blast furnaces, hot blast furnaces, electric furnace roofs, oxygen converters, reverberatory furnaces, and rotary kilns. They are also widely used as regenerative flat furnace checker bricks, plugs for pouring systems, and water mouth bricks, among other applications.
Curved firebricks are specially shaped refractory bricks with a customized radius, designed for arch, roof, burner zone, and ring linings of industrial furnaces.
Typical ingredients include:
Al₂O₃ content: 30%–45%
SiO₂ content: < 78%
Fe₂O₃ & alkali oxides: controlled at low levels to resist chemical reactions
Clay, bauxite, and chamotte as major raw materials
Additives for strength, density, and thermal shock resistance
They belong to weak-acid refractory materials, making them ideal for resisting:
✔ Acidic slag
✔ Sulfur-containing flue gases
✔ Oxidizing atmospheres
But they have limited alkali resistance, which must be considered when selecting furnace linings.
High-quality curved firebricks offer several engineering advantages that directly impact furnace performance and lifespan:
With refractoriness above 1500–1600°C, curved firebricks maintain structural stability even in continuous high-temperature industrial operations.
They resist:
Acidic gases
Sulfur compounds
Hot flue dust
Ash deposits
making them suitable for chemical, ceramic, and thermal processing industries.
Their mineral structure allows repeated heating and cooling cycles without cracking—critical for:
Burner arches
Rapid-heating kilns
Cyclic process furnaces
With CCS up to 300 kg/cm², curved bricks withstand:
Structural loads
Vibration
Arch pressure
Thermal expansion forces
Curved firebricks minimize:
Edge spalling
Structural collapse
Mechanical abrasion
This dramatically improves lining lifetime.
Low creep deformation keeps arch structures stable throughout long-term high-temperature service.
Straight bricks create stress concentration and gaps when constructing circular or arch structures.
Curved firebricks provide:
✔ Perfect radial alignment
✔ Uniform pressure distribution
✔ Reduced mortar joints
✔ Improved structural stability
✔ Longer service life
Using curved bricks reduces furnace deformation and maintenance costs—especially in:
Arch roofs
Dome sections
Circular combustion chambers
Regenerator arches
Burner blocks
Understanding the production process helps evaluate quality.
High-grade chamotte
Calcined bauxite
Clay
Mineral additives
Proper grain size distribution is essential for density and thermal shock resistance.
Curved bricks are formed with customized moulds:
Key brick
Side wedge
End arch brick
Crown brick
Ring brick
Mould precision determines final arch stability.
Slow, uniform drying prevents cracks, warping, and internal stress.
Firing ensures:
High strength
Low porosity
Stable mineral phase
Improved refractoriness
Each batch is tested for:
Dimensions
Radius accuracy
Bulk density
Porosity
Mechanical strength
RUL (Refractoriness Under Load)
Highland Refractory performs 3-stage inspection to ensure dimensional accuracy for arch assembly.
Curved firebricks are widely used for hot-face linings or backup insulation in:
Reheating furnaces
Ladle covers
Slag gasifiers
Hot blast furnace arches
Ethylene cracking furnaces
Reformer furnaces
Process heater arches
Shuttle kiln roofs
Tunnel kiln arches
Roller kiln burners
Preheater kiln arches
Cooler arches
Burner hood linings
Copper/Aluminium furnace domes
Smelting furnace arches
Boiler arches
Incinerator roofs
Ash chamber arches
Their geometry makes them ideal for any cylindrical or arch-based high-temperature structure.
| Properties | 40–45% Al₂O₃ Fireclay Brick (1600°C) | 30–35% Al₂O₃ Fireclay Brick (1500°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Density (g/cm³) | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| Apparent Porosity (%) | 22 | 24 |
| Modulus of Rupture (kg/cm²) | 90 | 80 |
| Cold Crushing Strength (kg/cm²) | 300 | 250 |
| Linear Expansion at 1350°C (%) | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Refractoriness Under Load (°C) | 1450 | 1300 |
Additional technical grades (High Alumina Curved Firebricks: 55%–80% Al₂O₃) are available on request.
When selecting curved bricks, consider:
<1500°C → Standard fireclay curved brick
1500–1650°C → High-alumina curved brick
1650°C → Special shaped bricks or phosphate-bonded alumina
Acidic → Fireclay brick
Neutral / oxidizing → High-alumina curved brick
Alkali-rich → Consider anti-alkali grade
Radius and arch angle must match perfectly
Brick size & taper determine arch stability
High-temperature cycling → choose low porosity, better thermal shock grades.
To maximize service life:
Use correct arch pattern and crown support
Ensure consistent mortar thickness
Leave proper expansion joints
Avoid rapid heating/cooling
Use high-temperature mortar for bonding
Conduct regular thermal inspections
Proper installation can extend brick life 30–50%.
Highland Refractory provides custom-shaped curved bricks for all industrial furnace structures.
Factory-direct supply from a 1,100-staff refractory base ensures stable cost and high competitiveness.
Hundreds of moulds available → reduced mould cost and shorter production time.
ISO 9001 quality system + 3-stage inspection for:
Dimensions
Radius accuracy
Density & porosity
High-temperature performance
Prevent issues like:
Brick twist
Cracks during drying
Arch misalignment
Shock-proof packaging avoids breakage during sea transportation.
Products exported to 40+ countries for steel, cement, glass, and energy industries.
Yes. They reduce stress concentration and give longer lining life.
Absolutely. Radius, thickness, taper, and shape can all be customized.
Depends on temperature and environment—usually 8 to 36 months for hot-face linings.
Yes, 50%–80% Al₂O₃ grades can be manufactured.
Provide furnace drawings or measurements, and our engineers will calculate the exact curvature.
Silicon carbide plates are mainly composed of silicon carbide (SiC) as the aggregate (with a content usually ≥ 80%).
High alumina fine powder is a powder material with alumina (Al2O3) as the main component.
Refractory cement, also known as aluminate cement, is a fire-resistant hydraulic cementitious material.
High alumina fine powder is a powder material with alumina (Al2O3) as the main component.
Clay powder is a powdery material with clay minerals as the main component.
