Aluminium · Copper · Zinc · Lead · Nickel
Refractories for Non-Ferrous Metals Industry
Aluminium, copper, zinc, lead and nickel smelters each demand distinct refractory chemistry, and a wrong choice destroys a lining in weeks. Molten aluminium reacts vigorously with silica and free Si in fireclay — only SiC and low-cement, non-wetting castables are appropriate. Copper smelting generates fayalite slag that attacks fireclay and alumina, so magnesia-chrome dominates the Peirce-Smith and anode-furnace duty. Zinc and lead bring volatile metal vapours that condense and degrade porous linings. firebrickssource.com — a Rajkot, Gujarat, India based manufacturer-cum-merchant exporter — supplies the right base chemistry per metal, with non-wetting SiC for aluminium and dense magnesia-chrome for copper, plus mullite, high-alumina and precast shapes for launders and runners.
Wear mechanisms · Smelting
Pain points in non-ferrous refractories
Aluminium attack on silica
Free SiO2 is reduced by Al, forming corundum needles and disintegrating the brick. Solution: SiC bricks and low-cement non-wetting castables.
Copper slag corrosion
FeO-SiO2 fayalite slag dissolves fireclay and alumina. Solution: fused-grain magnesia-chrome for PS converters and anode furnaces.
Mechanical wear in launders & runners
Metal flow erodes corners and weep holes. Solution: SiC precast and mullite with high MOR.
Matched refractory products
Recommended refractories for non-ferrous metals
Silicon-Carbide Bricks
Aluminium melting, holding furnace side-walls, launders. Non-wetting to molten Al, high thermal conductivity.
Magnesia-Chrome Bricks
Copper smelting (PS, anode), nickel and lead converters. Fused-grain and direct-bonded variants.
Mullite Bricks
Zinc smelter walls, copper reverberatory roof, aluminium reformer covers.
70% High-Alumina
Aluminium holding furnace back-up, lead smelter walls, nickel-matte launders.
Custom Precast Shapes
Launder boats, burner blocks, plug refractories drawn to your smelter geometry.
Zone-by-zone specification
Application zones — non-ferrous metals
| Furnace zone | Recommended brick | Temperature °C | Key property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium melting furnace | SiC bricks | 900 | Non-wetting to Al |
| Aluminium holding furnace | 70% high-alumina + dry barrier | 750 | Thermal storage |
| Aluminium launder | SiC precast | 750 | Wear |
| Copper smelter (PS) | Magnesia-chrome | 1200 | Cu slag |
| Copper anode | Magnesia-chrome | 1250 | Cu erosion |
| Zinc smelter | Mullite | 1300 | Zn vapour |
| Lead smelter | High-alumina 60% | 1300 | Pb attack |
Related categories
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