Zirconium corundum brick (AZS brick, i.e., Al₂O₃-ZrO₂-SiO₂ brick) is a high-performance refractory material. It is widely used in many high-temperature industrial fields due to its excellent high-temperature resistance, erosion resistance, and thermal shock stability. The following are its main industry applications:
Glass industry (core application areas)
Zirconia corundum brick occupies a dominant position in the glass industry and is mainly used for:
Key parts of glass kilns, such as melting pools, flow holes, kiln walls, and kiln roofs, can resist high temperatures (above 1600℃) and chemical erosion of glass liquid.
Fused zirconia corundum brick (AZS brick): divided into 33#, 36#, 41#, and other different zirconium oxide content grades, suitable for different types of glass production, such as:
Float glass kiln: Parts that contact glass liquid (such as pool walls and pool bottoms) usually use AZS bricks with high zirconium content (41%) to reduce glass defects.
Bottle glass, utensil glass kiln: use 36# zirconium corundum brick to balance cost and performance.
Optical glass, electronic glass kiln: extremely high requirements for glass purity; high-purity zirconium corundum bricks are needed to prevent pollution.
Iron and steel metallurgical industry
In the process of steel smelting, Zirconia corundum brick is mainly used for:
Ladle lining: especially refining ladles (such as LF furnace, RH furnace), because of their excellent resistance to erosion by molten steel and slag.
Tundish: used in the continuous casting process to protect the purity of molten steel and reduce non-metallic inclusions.
Heating furnace, soaking furnace: used in high-temperature areas such as the furnace wall and the furnace top to improve the life of the furnace lining.
Cement industry
In the new dry cement rotary kiln, zirconium corundum brick is mainly used for:
Kiln mouth, kiln head cover, burner: these parts are subjected to high temperature (above 1400℃) and clinker wear. Zirconia corundum brick can effectively extend the service life.
Preheater and decomposition furnace: used in high-wear and high alkali corrosion areas.
Chemical and petrochemical industry
In chemical high-temperature reaction equipment, the application of zirconium corundum bricks includes:
Coal gasifier (such as Texaco, Shell gasifier): used for furnace lining to resist high temperature and slag corrosion.
Petroleum catalytic cracking (FCC) unit: used in key parts such as reactors and regenerators.
Nonferrous metal smelting
In the smelting process of nonferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, and zinc, zirconium corundum bricks are used for:
Aluminum electrolytic cell: as a side wall material to resist the corrosion of molten aluminum and electrolyte.
Copper smelting furnace (such as flash furnace, converter): used for furnace lining to improve slag corrosion resistance.
