Refractories in the Czech Republic

The utilizable clays creates a reserve of about 160 Mt, which is approximately 76 % of all clays refractories in Czech Republic. The keramsite reserves of convenient clays are available in enormous quantities in Cheb basin as a result of coal mining. Insulating material, vermiculite, is used only rarely as a packing material for transportation of steel ingots, because the only one Czech source - Zruc nad Sázavou, is not sufficient. Refractory clays G (grog) are used for production of clay slates and for firebricks, on the one hand they have a favorable alumina content, low amount of iron oxides, loss on ignition and alkali. Among other materials in the country include fused materials, fireclays with cordierite, graphite-fireclay nozzles and stoppers, bricks for storage heaters, SiC plates, and rollers for roller-hearth kilns.