The temperature resistance of a material, usually expressed as its pyrometric cone equivalent. It describes how hot a material can get under heat alone before it softens, which is always higher than the temperature at which it can safely carry load or resist slag in service. Designers combine refractoriness with RUL, creep, HMOR and slag tests to pick materials.
Refractoriness isn't the issue, it's the slag, that brick would survive the heat all day long.
Also heard as
- refractory temperature
Related terms
PCE
Pyrometric cone equivalent: a refractory's softening point expressed as the number of a matching standard cone.
RUL
Refractoriness under load: the temperature at which a refractory starts to deform under a small steady load.
HMOR
Hot modulus of rupture: the bending strength of a refractory measured at high temperature.
Refractory
Non-metallic material built to keep its shape and strength at furnace temperatures while resisting slag, metal and gas.