Zenco Engineering · Trusted industrial supplier

Heat held in.
Noise kept down.

A trusted supplier of refractories, insulation, acoustics and sealing for industrial plant.

  • Contain heatRefractories and insulation
  • Absorb noiseAcoustic mineral wool
  • Seal the lineGaskets for steam, oil, acid
  • Establishedindustrial materials supplier
  • 39 productsacross 6 product ranges
  • Data sheetswith every quote
  • Engineer-ledadvice on every enquiry
Material guide

Which material, where.

A quick comparison of the main materials we supply. Temperatures are indicative maximums, not guarantees.

MaterialIndicative maxBest forWatch out for
Fire brick (fireclay) 1,450°C General furnace, kiln and boiler linings Less load and slag resistance than higher alumina
40% alumina brick 1,450°C All-round lining where conditions are moderate Not for the hottest or most aggressive zones
70% alumina brick 1,700°C Hot, heavily loaded or abrasive zones Costs more, so use it where the duty needs it
Zirconia 2,000°C Glass contact and highly corrosive slags Specialist material and the highest cost
Ceramic fibre 1,260°C Fast heat-up, light linings, door seals Not for abrasion or fast flame impact; wear PPE
Rockwool 700°C Boilers, steam lines, ducts and tanks Not for furnace hot faces
Glass wool 400°C Ducts, roofs and sound absorption Lowest temperature limit of the group

Indicative only. Exact limits depend on the grade, atmosphere and how the material is installed. Ask us for the data sheet.

Common problems

What is going wrong, and what to look at.

Cracks after heat-up

Check the heat-up schedule, expansion joints, and drying of castables.

Mortarcastablefibre
Why Zenco

One supplier for heat, sound and seal.

Talk to us
  1. Right gradeMatched to your temperature, atmosphere and wear.
  2. One full rangeRefractory to acoustic to sealing, from one supplier.
  3. Technical adviceSelection and installation guidance, in plain terms.
  4. Reliable supplyStock and delivery you can plan shutdowns around.
Product finder

What are you working on?

7 products for furnaces

A hot-face lining of brick or castable, backed by insulation to keep the shell cool.

How it works

From duty to delivery.

  1. Send the dutyTemperature, atmosphere, size
  2. We recommendThe right grade and thickness
  3. You get a quoteClear and quick
  4. We supplyDelivered to site

Start with the duty

Quick answers

Questions we get a lot.

Still unsure? Send us the duty.

Ask a question
Should I use 40% or 70% alumina fire brick?

Higher alumina handles higher temperatures, load and abrasion. 40% suits general furnace and kiln linings. 70% and above is for hotter or more demanding zones.

Insulating brick or dense fire brick?

Dense fire brick takes wear and direct flame contact. Insulating brick is lighter and saves more heat, so it usually sits behind the hot face.

Ceramic fibre or rockwool?

Ceramic fibre takes far higher temperatures and heats up fast. Rockwool suits lower-temperature pipes, boilers and ducts, and costs less.

How do I choose a gasket sheet?

By pressure, temperature and the medium: steam, oil or acid. Steel-reinforced sheet suits higher pressure. Tell us the duty and we will match it.

Can one material cut heat loss and noise?

Often, yes. Mineral wool insulates and absorbs sound, so one layer can do both on pipes, ducts and plant-room walls.

What do you need for a quote?

The operating temperature, the atmosphere, what the lining touches, and the size of the job.

Guides and notes

Read before you buy.

Tell us the duty.

We'll recommend the material.

Request a quote
Request a quote