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Engineered Refractory Material

The Forno Bravo Formula  
Mineral  
AL203 38%
SiO2 43.1%
CaO 11.4%
K2O 3.9%
Service Temperature 2400ºF
Bulk Density 135 lbs./cu. ft.
Compression Strength 8,230 psi

Tangible Advantages

The high compression strength greatly reduces the chance of hairline cracking.

The high alumina content means that our residential refractory ovens heat up in less than an hour; some in as little as 40 minutes—less than half the time of an old-fashioned brick, clay or concrete oven.

The high density means that our ovens retain heat better for baking Pizza Napoletana at high temperatures, and hearth bread and roasts at moderate temperatures. Our ovens have the best heat retention characteristics in the marketplace—and they weigh more than the same size ovens from o competitors.

The high purity (a very low percentage of non-refractory materials that break down with temperature cycling) means that our ovens are more durable than lower grade ovens—which can wear out too quickly.

While in the past many wood-fired ovens were made from natural clay and terracotta (baked earth) found in the ground, advanced engineering has created new materials that have dramatically improved pizza oven performance. Today's wood-fired ovens heat up more quickly, and hold their heat much longer than their old-fashioned predecessors. Sophisticated new refractory materials have taken much of the care (and hassle) out of owning a wood fired oven.

Using sophisticated technology developed for the steel manufacturing industry, our castable refractory is high alumina, high purity, high density and high compression strength. The Forno Bravo castable is manufactured using highly refined materials produced in a tightly controlled environment. Our castable formula includes five different calcined refractory aggregates, each selected for purity, and then kiln-fired, crushed, weighed and sized, and then combined with the highest quality calcium aluminate cement and refractory additives to create an ultra strong ceramic matrix bond. Higher-grade refractory costs more, but it's worth it.

Additionally, each Forno Bravo oven dome is made in the U.S. using a two-side, machine vibrated casting process. Rustic Italian ovens use a single-sided form and the material is packed by hand (which explains why they have a rough surface on the inside, not a smooth surface)—a process which produces ovens that are not as dense, or accurately cast, as the Forno Bravo ovens.

But does all this really matter? Definitely.

Let's put it this way—one Italian pizza oven manufacturer with a U.S. distributor understands the difference so clearly that they make ovens using both materials. Their entry level ovens are made using "terracotta", while their premium residential ovens and commercial ovens are made using an engineered refractory. Here's the catch. Their 40" premium residential refractory oven costs 55% more (an additional $1,600) than their 40" terracotta oven (the exact same size oven).

Forno Bravo makes every oven using the same premium grade refractory.

For the homeowner, restaurant owner, or caterer, the advances we have made in oven refractory material mean a better oven, at a better price.