Does anyone know the difference between refractory and thermal insulation material?
Refractory refers to inorganic nonmetallic material, whose refractorinessis not less than 1,580℃, but refractory is not necessarily insulated material. Inorganic thermal insulation material also belongs to refractory as long as its refractoriness is higher than 1580℃.
The main difference between insulation bricks and refractory bricks are as follows: 1. Insulation effect The heat conductivity cofficient of insulation bricks is usually 0.2-0.4 (average temperature of 350 ± 25 ℃) w / mk while the heat conductivity coefficient of refractory bricks is 1.0 (average temperature of 350 ± 25 ℃) w / mk or more. Thus it can be seen that the insulation effect of insulation bricks is much better than that of refractory bricks. 2. Refractoriness The refractoriness of insulation bricks is generally below 1,400 degrees centigrade while the refractoriness of refractory bricks is above 1,400 degrees centigrade. 3. Density Insulation bricks are generally light-weight insulation material, and the density is generally 0.8-1.0g / cm3. But the density of refractory bricks is above 2.0g / cm3.
I will give you a relatively simple analysis. Refractory can bear above 1,200 degrees centigrade, but some refractory is not insulated. For example, refractory brick can be directly in contact with heat source, but it has little insulation effect. Refractory includes ceramic fiber, high silica and so on. And they can be also insulated. But insulation effect is not so good as insulation material. Insulation material generally can bear below 800 degrees centigrade, and it is large in thermal resistance, low in heat conductivity coefficient and high in porosity factor, thus reducing heat loss. Briefly speaking, insulated material is to store most heat, and just let a small quantity of heat run of through air, thus insulating heat. Refractory includes glass fiber, rock wool, aerogel blanket and so on.
