2025 ECerS - FIRE Summer School - Oliver Kessler

Shaped refractories : from a “simple” brick to a complex ecosystem

Olivier Kessler

KAKUSHIN - France

Refractory shaped materials are covering a large variety of products which are used in countless different industrial processes.

The aim of this lecture is to give a holistic view of this highly complex field by driving you through the different manufacturing steps of a brick, keeping an eye at the global pictures of the industry and its environment. We will follow the fascinating life of a brick from raw materials extraction and processing to product formulation, mixing, high pressure forming, and thermal treatments. You will also learn about a critical stage, which is the selection of the right brick for a specific application, and how the main properties can fit with the challenging conditions (high temperature, chemical attack and mechanical stress) in use.

In a last part, we will look at the challenges ahead, and how the industry is adapting to the modern world driven by Digitalization, Sustainability or Geopolitical uncertainties.

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