Porcelain bricks

Ceramic industries. The chemical and physical properties of silicates are utilized to advantage in a group of industries which collectively may be termed the ceramic industries. These are concerned with the manufacture of products such as cement, glass, porcelain, bricks, tile, terra cotta, and enamels. All these industries utilize a wide variety of complex naturally occurring silicates. 

Porcelain brick are used as linings very occasionally where the need is primarily for (1) ease of cleaning, (2) product purity, (3) high wear resistance, and (4) high strength, all in combination with (5) best chemical resistance. In the dye industry, in particular, there is concern about inter-batch contamination and purity of colors. Porcelain brick are white, so that residues from earlier batches are easily visible. They have zero porosity, and the surfaces are glass smooth, so they may be easily cleaned. 

Because the mix used to form the bodies that are fired to produce the products are made in this manner from naturally occurring mixed or quarried materials, the chemical analyses of the bodies varies considerably, not only from manufacturer to manufacturer, but from year to year, as the deposits of the basic materials will vary, and compositions can only be indicated in general or relative terms. What they do determine is the crystalline phases of the mineral content, and all analytical data is based on the identity of these phases. The only characteristic that is an absolute with porcelain brick (or tile) in comparison with other forms of fired chemical-resistant blocks is zero porosity. 

The following table provides a comparison of the physical properties and mineralogical composition of the "regular" body and the "high strength" body (38-40%) porcelain brick. 

The designer may note that if he requires the most cleanable surface, yet the least expensive lining, it is entirely feasible to mate porcelain brick as a facing with an acid brick lining, since their coefficients of thermal expansion are quite similar. 

Use Chemicals (barium dioxide, barium hydroxide, blanc fixe), plate glass and porcelain, brick making, rodenticide. 

Typical Use Metals inc. (AF, steels, copper, brass, iron), wood products, porcelain, brick, plastics (inc. PVC, polycarbonate). Teflon-polypropylene- and polyethylene-trwted surfaces. ... 

The slime, consisting of kaolin, fine quart2, and feldspar, is sometimes used as is after being dewatered. This material may be used in the manufacture of light-colored brick or may be further processed to produce a high grade ceramic kaolin used in the manufacture of dinnerware, electrical porcelain, or sanitary-ware (see Ceramics). Floes of kaolin may be sold in bulk from the drier or pulveri2ed and sold in a powdered form. 

FIG. 5-12 Variation of absorptivity with temperature of radiation source. (1) Slate composition roofing. (2) Linoleum, red brown. (3) Asbestos slate. (4) Soft rubber, gray. (5) Concrete. (6) Porcelain. (7) Vitreous enamel, white. (8) Red brick. (9) Cork. (10) White dutch tile. (11) White chamotte. (12) MgO, evaporated. (13) Anodized aluminum. (14) Aluminum paint. (15) Polished aluminum. (16) Graphite. The two dashed lines bound the limits of data on gray paving brick, asbestos paper, wood, various cloths, plaster of parts, lithopone, and paper. To convert degrees Ranldne to kelvins, multiply by (5.556)(10 ). 

Red and blue acid-resistant bricks are resistant to all inorganic and organic chemicals, except for hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated caustic alkalis. Acid-resistant fireclay bricks are used for conditions involving elevating temperatures and corrosive condensates. Highly vitrified materials such as chemical stoneware, porcelain and basalts are used for extremely severe duties or where contamination of the process liquors is undesirable. 

Other applications of ceramics require clay, either raw or purified, sand, and feldspar. Brick, porcelain, and white wares are made from these raw materials the main expenditure in making these products is in firing the mixtures of powders to a dense solid. Ordinary brick made from fire-clay requires a small amount of energy even refractory brick for high temperatures and chemical durability, made partly from purified oxides such as alumina or chrome ore,... 

---