Fire brick

A refractory brick is built primarily to withstand high temperature, but will also usually have a low thermal conductivity for greater energy efficiency.

Usually dense fire bricks are used in applications with extreme mechanical, chemical, or thermal stresses, such as the inside of a wood-fired kiln or a furnace, which is subject to abrasion from wood, fluxing from ash or slag, and high temperatures.

[2] Also available are firebrick "splits" which are half the thickness and are often used to line wood stoves and fireplace inserts.

[3] Fire brick was first invented in 1822 by William Weston Young in the Neath Valley of Wales.

As the inner lining is usually of sacrificial nature, fire bricks of higher alumina content may be employed to lengthen the duration between re-linings.

[7] Silicon carbide, with high abrasive strength, is a popular material for hearths of incinerators and cremators.