Refractory Ceramics

Refractories are materials of construction that can withstand high temperatures and maintain their physical properties within a furnace environment. They are therefore widely used to build structures that can resist the thermal shock, physical wear and corrosive chemicals associated with iron and steel production, copper and aluminium smelting, glass and ceramics production and simular processes.  Two thirds of all refractories used by the industry are preformed bricks and other fired shapes. The mechanical properties are strongly dependent on their surfaces and the presence of defects resulting from their finishing and handling. Production of ceramic articles start with fine powder which is given shape by various casting and pressing methods prior to sintering at approximately 0.7 of the melting temperature.