The transfer of molten metal is responsible for consuming more tons of refractory than any other operation in the steel industry.

As aluminum producers strive to increase productivity, the environment within furnaces for holding and melting aluminum is becoming more aggressive. Chamber temperatures are increasing and more aggressive fluxes are being used, necessitating more frequent and severe cleaning operations of the refractory wall.

Alumina ceramics and steatites have primarily been used in the furnace industry for electrical insulators with advantageous structural properties at elevated temperatures. Steatites are better heat insulators but do not have nearly the strength or the suitability for high-temperature applications that alumina formulations have.