This book covers the details of the specialized advanced refractories, their essentiality, functions, materials used, properties, degradation and possibilities for improvements. Elaborated details with various schematic figures and real-life photographs are included with special focus on iron and steel industries. It is based on different multi-national/international refractory organizations and their products correlating with fundamentals and concepts. Features: Describes the design and types of refractory materials used in different industrial applications, along with their wear mechanisms. Focusses on for specific applications during iron and steelmaking. Includes numerous schematic diagrams with labelling and product photos with application areas. Reviews details of background, requirements from user industries, progress with time, materials used, compositions and properties. Mentions failure mechanisms, and pertinent improvement/modifications.

This book is aimed at graduate students, researchers and professionals in refractory materials, pyrometallurgy, and iron and steelmaking.