AW No.1 · No.2 · No.3 · Custom radii
Arch & Wedge Refractory Bricks
Tapered refractory bricks for kiln crowns, furnace roofs, ladle covers and circular linings. Standard AW No.1/2/3 stock dimensions plus custom radii in any common base chemistry.
- AW No.1230 × 114 × 65/55 mm
- AW No.2230 × 114 × 65/45 mm
- AW No.3230 × 114 × 65/35 mm
- BaseFC / HA / Mullite / SiC
- CustomRadius cuts on request
- Max temp1500 – 1800 °C
About this product
What arch and wedge refractory bricks are — and where they fit
Arch and wedge refractory bricks are tapered refractory products produced by die-pressing standard refractory mixes into wedge-shaped tools. firebrickssource.com — Rajkot, Gujarat, India — supplies the full range of arch and wedge refractory bricks within the special shapes category, exported to cement, steel, glass and ceramic plant constructors worldwide.
Arch and wedge bricks exist because circular linings need a tapered brick to close the arch — a rectangular brick can only build a flat wall. The Indian and international standard nomenclature recognises three principal tapers: AW No.1 (230 × 114 × 65/55 mm — gentle taper for large-radius crowns), AW No.2 (230 × 114 × 65/45 mm — moderate taper for typical kiln crowns), and AW No.3 (230 × 114 × 65/35 mm — steep taper for tight-radius linings). The arch builder combines one or two of these tapers with normal-format bricks to close to the design radius, with a sand or refractory-mortar joint taking up the residual gap.
Chemistry is selected per duty. Fireclay arches are used in low-temperature ceramic kiln roofs and lime kiln crowns. High-alumina arches (60 – 80% Al₂O₃) cover cement kiln crowns and steel reheating furnaces. Mullite arches are used where thermal-shock cycling is severe, and silicon-carbide arches are used in biomass-boiler and high-conductivity duties. The base chemistry properties — Al₂O₃ %, CCS, RUL, porosity — match the equivalent normal-format brick in our high-alumina range or fire-brick range.
firebrickssource.com supplies stock AW No.1/2/3 in fireclay and high-alumina chemistries (60% and 70% are the most-ordered). Custom radii are produced from a customer drawing — send the inside-arch radius and brick count and we'll cut the die. See related special shapes checker bricks, burner blocks and custom precast refractory, or browse the full special shapes category.
Technical specifications
Standard arch / wedge dimensions and base chemistry
| Shape | Dimensions (mm) | Typical taper | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| AW No.1 | 230 × 114 × 65 / 55 | Gentle | Large-radius kiln crown, glass-tank crown |
| AW No.2 | 230 × 114 × 65 / 45 | Moderate | Cement kiln crown, ladle cover |
| AW No.3 | 230 × 114 × 65 / 35 | Steep | Tight-radius vertical kiln, furnace roof |
| Custom | To customer drawing | Any | Specialty radii — send drawing |
| Base chemistry | Fireclay (FC), High-alumina HA-60/70/80/90, Mullite, Silicon-Carbide (SiC) | ||
| Max service °C | 1500 – 1800 depending on base chemistry | ||
| Test methods | Per base-chemistry specification — IS 1528 / ASTM C-series | ||
*Typical certified values — actual batch values issued on the per-shipment test certificate. Values aligned with IS 1528 / ASTM C-series / EN 993 test methods.*
Applications
Where to use arch & wedge refractory bricks
- Rotary cement kiln crown & nose ring
- Ceramic / shuttle kiln roof
- Vertical lime kiln crown
- Ladle & tundish covers
- Glass-tank crown
- Blast-furnace stove crown
- Waste-incinerator arch roof
- Biomass-boiler combustion chamber
- Industrial reheating-furnace roof
- Refractory-lined cyclone outlet
Datasheet
Download technical datasheet
PDF with full AW No.1/2/3 dimensions, base-chemistry options and dimensional tolerances. Includes guidance on arch-closure calculation.
Download AW datasheet (PDF)Quote request
Get arch / wedge quote in 24 hours
Send the inside-arch radius, brick count, base chemistry and Incoterm. Custom radii: send a drawing.
Frequently asked
Arch / wedge — questions buyers ask
What is the difference between AW No.1, No.2 and No.3?
Arch / wedge nomenclature describes the taper. AW No.1 measures 230 × 114 × 65/55 mm — a gentle taper used for very large radius crowns. AW No.2 measures 230 × 114 × 65/45 mm — a moderate taper for typical kiln crowns. AW No.3 measures 230 × 114 × 65/35 mm — the steepest standard taper, used for tight-radius circular linings. Each combines with normal-format bricks of matching chemistry to build the full arch.
What chemistries are available?
Arch and wedge bricks are produced in any common refractory base — fireclay (general-purpose), high-alumina 60 – 90% (cement kiln crowns, steel reheating), mullite (thermal-shock resistant), and silicon-carbide SiC (kiln furniture, biomass boiler arches). The choice depends on the operating temperature, atmosphere and slag exposure of the arch.
Can you make custom radius cuts?
Yes. Custom-radius cuts and tapered shapes are produced on request. For unusual radii or unique tapering profiles, send a drawing or sketch with the inside-arch radius and brick count — we'll cut a custom press die or hand-finish the brick to suit.
Where are arch and wedge bricks used?
Typical applications include rotary cement kiln crowns, ceramic and shuttle kiln roofs, vertical lime kiln linings, ladle and tundish covers, glass-tank crowns, blast-furnace stove crowns and waste-incinerator arch roofs.
What is the typical MOQ?
Standard MOQ is approximately 5 – 10 MT for stocked AW No.1/2/3 in common chemistries. Custom radii and special-chemistry runs are quoted per project. One 20-foot container typically carries 22 – 25 MT of arch / wedge refractory bricks.
What lead time should I expect?
Stock chemistries: 2 – 4 weeks ex-works. Custom radii or specialty chemistries: 4 – 8 weeks. Engineering review (mould design, mix design) is included for custom orders.
Do you provide samples and test certificates?
Yes. Samples can be dispatched on request — normally chargeable plus courier. Every production batch is tested per the base-chemistry specification (Al₂O₃, CCS, RUL, porosity); a test certificate ships with each consignment.
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