Fire bricks are made from ceramic materials, including brick clay, sand, and other minerals. The bricks are then covered with a layer of refractory material such as cement or a refractory coating. They are then fired at high temperatures to create a porous surface that absorbs water and gas. The high temperature process creates an inside surface that is coated with a carbon layer and a white ash layer. The fire bricks are used in a wide variety of applications, such as as insulation for electrical cables, heating systems, furnaces, kilns, or boilers.