Refractories range from traditional pressed or cast and fired materials, to sophisticated engineered ceramics. Driven by the ever-increasing requirements and needs of the user industries, the trend towards development of more novel and advanced, value-added refractories will continue for decades. A changing refractory workforce of new graduates and experienced technologists grounded in the principles of chemistry, physics, mineralogy, ceramics, materials science, and engineering, who work together with others specialising in sales, marketing, finance, management and other disciplines, will be needed to serve the global industry. This article takes a look at selected business and market trends, and gives examples of technical advances and successes to highlight future directions for refractories and the refractories industry.
