Brick choices for alternative fuels

Environmental concerns and basic economics have changed the way kilns are fired, these changes have a detrimental effect on brick life. While there is a monetary incentive to burn alternative fuels, there is also a risk involved. Alternative fuels can lead to process upsets and chemical attack on refractory linings. If chemical attack is severe, it can lead to brick failure and kiln downtime. Since thermal shock and sulfur penetration are two of the greatest difficulties faced when burning alternative fuels, burning zone transition zone brick should be chosen with those problems in mind. Magnesite-spinel brick were designed to solve, or at least minimize these problems. Spinel is a mineral composition that contains a combination of MgO and Al2O3. Mag-spinel bricks can be produced with different properties by using varying amounts of magnesite and alumina, and by using different manufacturing methods.