5. Wear and tear on refractory ceramics

The first wear factor to consider is the temperature at which the refractory ceramic is used. However, a refractory ceramic will not only withstand high temperatures, but also many other stresses that affect its service life :

• chemical attack by liquid oxides, molten salts, molten metals and gases. Liquid oxides are particularly corrosive. Examples include glass produced in glass furnaces, and iron and steel slag that floats to the surface of molten steel and cast-iron baths. Oxygen in...