Refractory bricks, refractory bricks, or refractory materials are ceramic blocks used for lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. Refractory bricks are mainly built to withstand high temperatures, but usually also have lower thermal conductivity to improve energy efficiency. Dense refractory bricks are typically used in applications with extreme mechanical, chemical, or thermal stress, such as the interior of wood burning kilns or furnaces, where they are subject to wear and tear from wood, melting of ash or slag, and high temperatures. In other less demanding situations, such as in electric kilns or natural gas kilns, porous bricks (commonly referred to as kiln bricks) are a better choice. They are weaker, but lighter, easier to form, and have better insulation than dense bricks. Under any circumstances, refractory bricks should not crack and their strength should remain good during rapid temperature changes.