FCC · Reformers · Sulphur recovery · FGD
Refractories for Petrochemical Industry
Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), steam reformers, hydrogen plants, ethylene crackers and sulphur recovery units (SRU) operate at moderate temperatures — typically 450 to 1100 °C — but in chemically corrosive environments dominated by sulphur, hydrocarbons, hydrogen and abrasive catalyst fines. Refractory selection here prioritises abrasion resistance, acid resistance, low iron content and insulation efficiency over peak temperature. firebrickssource.com — a Rajkot, Gujarat, India based manufacturer-cum-merchant exporter of refractory bricks — supplies the abrasion-plus-acid-resistance combinations the refining and petrochemical industry needs, plus K-class IFB for hot-wall back-up and acid-proof brickwork for FGD absorbers and effluent treatment.
Wear mechanisms · Refining
Pain points in petrochemical refractories
FCC catalyst abrasion
Zeolite catalyst at 700 °C erodes any conventional lining in months. Solution: SiC bricks plus anti-erosion castables in cyclone diplegs.
Acid attack in sulphur & FGD units
H2SO4 condensate and SO2 vapour destroy fireclay. Solution: acid-resistant bricks and tiles with potassium-silicate mortar.
High-temp hydrogen reformer wall
H2-rich service requires low-iron, low-silica refractories. Solution: 60 – 70% high-alumina with K-class IFB back-up.
Matched refractory products
Recommended refractories for petrochemical
Silicon-Carbide Bricks
Dense and nitride-bonded SiC for FCC reactors, regenerator cyclones and abrasion-critical zones.
Acid-Proof Tiles & Bricks
FGD absorbers, SRU effluent pits, acid storage. ASTM C-279 certified low-absorption tiles.
60% High-Alumina
Hydrogen reformer hot wall, pyrolysis cracker walls, primary-reformer back-up.
70% High-Alumina
Sulphur recovery main combustion chamber, ethylene cracker radiant zone.
K-28 Insulating Fire Brick
Back-up insulation behind dense hot-face. Boiler back-up, reformer back-up, pyrolysis lines.
Zone-by-zone specification
Application zones — petrochemical
| Process zone | Recommended brick | Temperature °C | Key property |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCC reactor | Anti-erosion castable + SiC | 750 | Catalyst abrasion |
| FCC regenerator | Dense SiC bricks | 750 | Abrasion + temperature |
| Hydrogen reformer | 60% high-alumina | 1100 | Hot wall stability |
| Sulphur recovery | Dense high-alumina | 1300 | Sulphur attack |
| Pyrolysis cracker | High-alumina + SiC radiant | 1100 | Coke combustion |
| FGD absorber | Acid-proof tiles | 200 | Acid + abrasion |
| Boiler back-up | K-28 IFB | 1500 | Thermal insulation |
Related categories
Adjacent product families
Browse specialty refractories, acid-resistant bricks, insulating IFB and the parent product index, or return to industries.
Talk to us
Refinery engineers on call
Send P&ID, vessel drawing or anchor pattern — we'll specify hot-face plus back-up plus mortar, packed for project shipment.
Request a Quote