What Kind of Bricks Are Used in a Fireplace?

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What Kind of Bricks Are Used in a Fireplace?

You should only use a special type of brick, called firebrick, fire brick or a refractory brick, to make a fireplace. Normal bricks cannot stand up to the continued high heat inside a fireplace and will crack.

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History

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In 1817 William Harry was the first to apply silica tiles to a ceramic kiln to prolong its life. However, William Weston Young was the one who through his own experimentation of different silica clays first created a long-lasting brick that is basically heat-proof. In 1822 Young and a group of investors first began making and producing firebricks.

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Creation

In order to create firebricks, a special mixture called fire clay must be created from a mixture of silica, aluminum oxide and other materials that stand up well to high temperatures. The clay is then baked in a kiln until vitrified.

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Significance

The refractory properties of firebricks makes them very popular for a variety of applications. Not only are firebricks useful in fireplaces for people's home, but also for industrial furnaces, steel refineries and even as insulating tiles for the space shuttle.

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Size

Firebricks are rectangles usually measuring 9 x 4.5 x 2.5 in. This is the standard size, but it may vary as they are adapted for specific applications.

Warning

Do not attempt to build a fireplace out of normal bricks. The bricks could crack under the heat and it could endanger the integrity of the whole fireplace and collapse.

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