ABOUT REFRACTORIES
Refractories are essential for all high-temperature industrial processes.
The lining of every single reactor, transport vessel or kiln uses a wide range of refractory products including bricks, monolithics and high-temperature insulation wool.
Refractories play the triple role of providing mechanical strength, protection against corrosion and thermal insulation. They are adapted to each specific application through fine-tuning and a careful choice of the different raw materials and their processing.
Innovative refractory products provide resource-efficient solutions to downstream industries and have been instrumental in the development of key breakthrough processes. And last but not least, refractories are also indispensable as kiln linings or physical support during the firing of all ceramic products.
Around 70% of refractories are sold to the steel industry.
Find out more at the World Steel Association website.
© 2018 by World Refractories Association. All rights reserved
FAQ
ATHOR Project
ATHOR (Advanced THermomechanical multiscale mOdelling of Refractory linings) is an innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary project that brings together 15 early stage researchers, 7 academic beneficiaries and 8 private partners. This 4-year European Training Network (ETN) program started in October 2017 as a Marie-Sklodowska-Curie action (Innovative Training Network – ITN). The ATHOR network is firstly dedicated to train researchers in multi engineering required fields for a better understanding of thermomechanical behaviour of refractory linings used in I&S applications.
The main scientific objective of the ATHOR network is to adapt and develop the most advanced modelling strategies and experimental technologies to the field of refractory to be able to perform reliable computations and measurement in the temperature range of the applications of these materials. ATHOR targets the development of high-end engineering technologies in the fields of material’s science and numerical simulations to give a substantial contribution through the design of more robust and reliable refractory linings. Ultimately, it represents a reduction of the refractory costs, an increase of the equipment’s availability and an enhanced process control. In addition to the great energy savings that meets the industrial partner’s interests, the ATHOR project contributes also to tackling environmental issues.
ATHOR is taking part in the IAU-BBC series “Aiming Higher”. These short documentaries were developed in a cooperation between the International Association of Universities (IAU) and BBC StoryWorks with the objective to produce a series on higher education that illustrates how universities are playing a key role in addressing societal transformations.
The ATHOR project is supported by our members Imerys, RHI Mangesita and Saint Gobain.
© 2019 BBC StoryWorks