High Alumina Brick
(HAB) — Five Grades
High Alumina Brick (HAB) is a dense, fired refractory brick containing aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) as the primary refractory component, produced by mixing calcined bauxite, synthetic corundum, or alumina with bonding agents, pressing under high load, and firing in tunnel kilns at temperatures above 1400°C. The fired product provides high mechanical strength, excellent resistance to high-temperature loads, chemical attack from slags and alkali vapours, and thermal shock cycling. Al₂O₃ content ranges from 48% to 85%, with service temperatures from 1500°C to 1790°C. Five grades cover the full range of cement kiln, industrial furnace, glass tank, and steel applications.
HAB Grade Matrix — Five Grades, Full Parameters
Dense High-Alumina Refractory Brick — HAB Series
All five grades are tunnel-kiln fired under the same ISO 9001 quality system. The VRF-HAB55 and VRF-HAB65 grades cover the majority of cement kiln, industrial furnace, and hot blast stove applications. Higher-alumina grades (HAB75/HAB85) are specified for steel ladle lining, EAF roofs, and glass furnace crowns. Standard size: 230×114×65mm (ISO metric equivalent). Shapes, wedges, and special formats available on request.
| Grade | Al₂O₃ (%) | B.D. (g/cm³) | A.P. (%) | CCS (MPa) | MOR (MPa) | RUL T₀.₆ (°C) | Max Svc Temp (°C) | Thermal Shock (cycles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRF-HAB48 | ≥ 48 | ≥ 2.20 | ≤ 22 | ≥ 50 | ≥ 8 | ≥ 1400 | 1500 | ≥ 20 |
| VRF-HAB55 | ≥ 55 | ≥ 2.40 | ≤ 20 | ≥ 60 | ≥ 10 | ≥ 1470 | 1580 | ≥ 20 |
| VRF-HAB65 ★ Recommended | ≥ 65 | ≥ 2.55 | ≤ 18 | ≥ 70 | ≥ 12 | ≥ 1530 | 1650 | ≥ 25 |
| VRF-HAB75 | ≥ 75 | ≥ 2.70 | ≤ 16 | ≥ 85 | ≥ 15 | ≥ 1580 | 1730 | ≥ 25 |
| VRF-HAB85 | ≥ 85 | ≥ 2.90 | ≤ 14 | ≥ 100 | ≥ 18 | ≥ 1620 | 1790 | ≥ 30 |
B.D. = Bulk Density · A.P. = Apparent Porosity · CCS = Cold Crushing Strength · MOR = Modulus of Rupture · RUL T₀.₆ = Refractoriness Under Load (0.6% deformation) · Thermal Shock = 1100°C water-quench cycles · ★ Highlighted grade recommended for general cement kiln and industrial furnace applications
HAB vs Fireclay Brick — Upgrade Justification
High Alumina Brick outperforms traditional fireclay brick (Al₂O₃ 25–45%) in hot strength, slag resistance, and service temperature — the three failure mechanisms most common in cement kilns and industrial furnaces. The cost premium of HAB over fireclay is consistently recovered in extended campaign life, reduced downtime, and lower relining frequency.
| Property | Fireclay Brick | HAB55 | HAB65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al₂O₃ | 25–45% | ≥ 55% | ≥ 65% |
| CCS | 25–40 MPa | ≥ 60 MPa | ≥ 70 MPa |
| RUL T₀.₆ | 1250–1350°C | ≥ 1470°C | ≥ 1530°C |
| Alkali Resistance | Low–Moderate | Good | High |
| Max Service Temp | ~1400°C | 1580°C | 1650°C |
| Campaign Life | Baseline | +40–60% | +80–120% |
HAB by Industry & Application
Cement Rotary Kiln
HAB55 and HAB65 are used in cement kiln burning and transition zones where magnesite brick is not specified. Provides excellent alkali resistance in the upper temperature zones, with HAB65 the preferred choice for transition zones operating above 1400°C where longer campaign life is the design priority.
Blast Furnace Hot Blast Stove
HAB65 and HAB75 for checker brick work and combustion chamber lining in hot blast stoves operating at 1200–1350°C. The combination of high RUL and low creep ensures dimensional stability of the checker work stack over extended campaigns.
Industrial Heating Furnace
Reheating furnaces, walking-beam furnaces, and soaking pits for steel and non-ferrous applications. HAB55 provides cost-effective working face lining for furnaces operating at 1100–1300°C. HAB65 is specified for higher-temperature zones and roof arches in continuous furnaces.
Steel Ladle Upper Zone
HAB75 and HAB85 for steel ladle upper sidewall and lip ring lining, where the combination of high Al₂O₃ content, low porosity, and slag resistance extends campaign life versus lower-grade alternatives. Suitable for non-critical ladle zones where mag-carbon is not required.
Glass Furnace Superstructure
HAB75 and HAB85 for glass furnace crown, breast wall, and port neck construction where AZS electrofused block is not specified. High RUL and low creep rate maintain arch geometry under sustained thermal load. Not recommended for areas in direct contact with glass melt — specify AZS for glass contact surfaces.
Aluminium Melting & Holding Furnace
HAB48 and HAB55 provide cost-effective lining for aluminium melting and holding furnaces operating at 700–900°C. The moderate Al₂O₃ content offers adequate aluminium-melt resistance without the cost of higher-grade brick in this relatively low-temperature application.
High Alumina Brick FAQ
For cement kiln transition zones operating at 1200–1400°C with moderate alkali exposure, VRF-HAB55 (Al₂O₃ ≥ 55%) is the standard specification. Where the transition zone extends into higher alkali concentrations or operates above 1350°C continuously, upgrade to VRF-HAB65 — the additional Al₂O₃ content provides measurable improvement in alkali resistance and hot strength retention. HAB75 and HAB85 are reserved for zones in direct contact with clinker liquid phase above 1400°C, where the additional cost is justified by the significant campaign life extension.
Magnesite and magnesia-chrome bricks are typically specified for the burning zone (clinkering zone) of cement kilns, where temperatures exceed 1400°C and the brick must bond with a protective coating layer. High Alumina Brick is used in the transition zone, inlet zone, and other high-temperature zones where the coating-bonding mechanism of magnesite does not apply. HAB is also preferred over magnesite brick in kilns producing sulphate-resistant clinker (high SO₃) or in areas where thermal shock resistance is the primary concern. HAB and magnesite brick are complementary — not interchangeable — in cement kiln design.
Fireclay brick contains Al₂O₃ in the range of 25–45%, providing a service temperature limit of approximately 1250–1400°C. High Alumina Brick (Al₂O₃ ≥ 48%) provides a step-change improvement in hot strength (CCS ≥ 50 vs 25–40 MPa), refractoriness under load (RUL ≥ 1400°C vs 1250–1350°C), and alkali resistance. In cement kilns and high-temperature industrial furnaces, the campaign life extension from upgrading to HAB typically recovers the price premium within the first relining cycle — making HAB the standard specification for all zones above 1100°C continuous operating temperature.
Minimum order quantity is 5 tonnes per grade. Standard brick (230×114×65mm) is palletised on wooden export pallets with edge protection and stretch wrap. A 20-foot general-purpose container loads approximately 22–24 tonnes of standard brick. Special shapes (arch, wedge, key) are packed in wooden crates. Lead time from order confirmation to FOB Qingdao is typically 3–4 weeks for standard grades, 5–6 weeks for special shapes and higher-alumina grades (HAB75/HAB85).
Every shipment includes a batch Certificate of Analysis (COA) showing actual tested values for Al₂O₃, B.D., A.P., CCS, MOR, and RUL. The Technical Data Sheet (TDS), MSDS, and packing list are supplied as standard. For orders ≥ 10 tonnes, we can arrange third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) at the production facility before shipment. Type test reports showing thermal shock resistance cycles are available for HAB65, HAB75, and HAB85 grades.
Get a Proposal for High Alumina Brick
Specify your Al₂O₃ grade, application, and quantity. Our technical team responds within 6 hours with pricing, lead time, and a batch COA for the relevant grade.