Engineering tool
Cold Crushing Strength (CCS) Calculator
Convert a crushing load and specimen geometry into cold crushing strength in MPa and kg/cm², the standard room-temperature strength check for a refractory.
Cold crushing strength — MPa
Cold crushing strength — kg/cm²
Loaded area — mm²
Enter dimensions in millimetres. For a circular specimen only the diameter is used; the second dimension is ignored.
Formulas used
- Rectangular area = length × width
- Circular area = π ÷ 4 × diameter²
- CCS (MPa) = force (N) ÷ area (mm²)
Practical notes
- CCS is measured at room temperature. It says nothing directly about hot strength, which is what a lining actually experiences.
- The loaded area is the area under the platen, not the whole specimen. Getting it wrong scales the result in direct proportion.
Frequently asked questions
What does cold crushing strength actually tell me?
It indicates how well a brick survives handling, transport and installation, and it is a useful consistency check between deliveries. It is not a measure of service performance at temperature.
Why report both MPa and kg/cm²?
Because refractory datasheets still use both, depending on the market. 1 MPa equals about 10.2 kg/cm², so quoting one without its unit invites a tenfold misreading.