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BNZ
s.a.
PLEMET,FRANCE
BNZ
Materials Inc; operates another Insulating Firebrick
manufacturing facility at Plémet in Brittany,
France. The combined capacity and product
availability of BNZ’s brick factories result in the
Group being recognised as one of the World’s leading
quality manufactures of refractory insulating
firebrick.
The
Plémet facility has produced refractories for over
70 years. Now specialising in producing only
Insulating Firebrick, at one time the Worlds first
ceramic fibre blankets were manufactured here.
BNZ
Materials Inc. acquired the Plémet plant towards the
end of 1999 to compliment the bricks produced at
their Zelienople,PA plant in the USA. The principal
clay used to produce Plémet’s bricks is extracted
from BNZ’s own quarry. This combined kaolinitic and
illitic clay is also supplied for ceramic
applications, for example for potting and as a
plasticity improver for whiteware bodies.
Brick
microstructures produced in the fired brick are
exceptionally suited to applications where high
mechanical strength, resistance to chemical attack
combined with good insulating properties are
required.
Examples include for the primary aluminium industry,
anode baking furnace and reduction cell insulation.
Plémet’s brick offer good resistance to molten
aluminium metal and combined halogen and alkali
attack for highly porous refractory microstructures.
See the reference list for recent contracts in this
field.
These
useful attributes are also put to good use in the
glass industry. Here sub-hearth insulation of
melting tanks, for port neck and side wall
insulation. Large blocks up to a maximum format of
600 x 400 x 100 mm can be supplied in Group 23,
Group 25 & Group 26 brick specifications.
Recent independent comparative studies have shown
that our Calor A insulating brick came out the best
in lining trials for craft salt glaze use.
The
Plémet range of bricks is also proven for many of
the general purpose kiln and furnace insulation
applications. However where high hot strength is
required the bricks produced at the Zelienople plant
can be considered. The USA clays generally have
lower alkali contents than European clays and have
superior microstructures for long term under-load
creep properties.
It is
important to use a mortar compatible with refractory
insulating bricks. BNZ’s distinctive, proven
Blackbond mortar has been formulated to meet both
the requirements of the lining’s performance in
service and the practicalities for good bricklaying
practice.
BNZ
s.a. have a network of distributors around the
World. We can bring to bear considerable technical
and engineering support for refractory users at the
design, procurement, construction, commissioning and
operational phases for refractory linings.
With
our wide range of products we can always supply a
solution. |
