Refractories are ceramic materials designed to withstand the very high temperatures (in excess of 1,000°F [538°C]) encountered in modern manufacturing. More heat-resistant than metals, they are used to line the hot surfaces found inside many industrial processes. In addition to being resistant to thermal stress and other physical phenomena induced by heat, refractories can withstand physical wear and corrosion caused by chemical agents. Thus, they are essential to the manufacture of petrochemical products and the refining of gasoline. Refractories come in all shapes and sizes. They can be pressed or molded for use in floors and walls, produced in interlocking shapes and wedges, or curved to fit the insides of boilers and ladles. Some refractory parts are small and possess a complex and delicate geometry; others, in the form of precast or fusion-cast blocks, are massive and may weigh several tons.
Refractories are produced from natural and synthetic materials, usually nonmetallic, or combinations of compounds and minerals such as alumina, fireclays, bauxite, chromite, dolomite, magnesite, silicon carbide, and zirconia. From the simple (e.g., fireplace brick linings) to the sophisticated (e.g., reentry heat shields for the space shuttle), refractories are used to contain heat and protect processing equipment from intense temperatures. In industry, they are used to line boilers and furnaces of all types (reactors, ladles, stills, kilns, etc.)
