Demande de devis

Division 03 — Trading Division — Refractory Materials

Refractory Materials

Refractory materials are high-temperature-resistant inorganic materials that line melting furnaces, holding ladles, and transfer equipment across the ferrous and non-ferrous industry — iron and steel foundries, aluminium and non-ferrous foundries, cement plants, glass works and heat treatment. They prevent molten metal from breaching the furnace structure, resist slag attack, and maintain the thermal conditions required for controlled melting and holding. The category also includes crucibles for induction furnaces and ceramic foam filters used in the gating system to remove inclusions from the metal stream before it enters the mould.

CFC Egypt's Trading Division supplies refractory masses and precast shapes — together with refractory bricks, shaped preforms, crucibles, and ceramic foam filters — for the ferrous and non-ferrous industry across Egypt and the MENA region. These are supplied through CFC's partner INSERTEC, which owns a quartzite mine supplying high-quality mineral, and serve iron foundries, steel foundries and steel works, aluminium and non-ferrous foundries, cement plants, the glass industry, heat treatment, and frits & enamels production. They complement the castable refractories, ramming mixes, and mortars produced by CFC Egypt's own Manufacturing Division.

Demande de devis All trading products

01

What We Supply

Refractory masses, precast shapes and product groups for the furnace, ladle, and casting filtration stages of ferrous and non-ferrous operations — supplied through CFC's partner INSERTEC.

01

Refractory Bricks & Linings

Refractory masses and precast shapes (supplied with partner INSERTEC) plus high-alumina, silica, and other shaped refractory bricks and preformed linings for melting furnaces, ladles, and transfer troughs. Selected by temperature rating, chemical resistance to the metal and slag, and dimensional requirements of the vessel. Correct brick selection and installation are critical to lining campaign life and metal quality.

02

Crucibles for Induction Furnaces

Refractory crucibles (foundry crucibles) for coreless and channel induction furnaces melting grey iron, ductile iron, steel, and non-ferrous metals. Crucibles are supplied in acid (silica/quartz), basic (magnesia), and neutral (alumina) compositions to match the metal and operating chemistry. Correct crucible selection and sintering procedure directly determines lining life.

03

Ceramic Foam Filters

Alumina, silicon carbide, and zirconia ceramic foam filters for iron and steel casting filtration. Placed in the filter seat of the running system, these porous ceramic bodies intercept non-metallic inclusions before they reach the mould cavity, improving casting cleanliness, reducing machining hard spots, and increasing the yield of accepted castings.

02

Where Refractories Are Used

Every foundry and high-temperature plant that melts or processes metal requires refractories — across iron, steel, aluminium and non-ferrous foundries, cement plants, the glass industry, heat treatment, and frits & enamels. The service conditions — temperature, slag chemistry, thermal cycling — determine the specification required.

Induction Melting Furnaces

Medium-frequency coreless induction furnaces melting grey iron, ductile iron, and steel use refractory crucibles as their primary containment vessel. The crucible is rammed or vibrated in place around the induction coil and sintered before the first melt. Crucible life depends on operating practice, charge material, and the chemical aggressiveness of the metal and slag.

Ladles & Pouring Equipment

Transfer and pouring ladles carrying molten iron or steel between furnace and casting station require a robust refractory lining rated to the metal temperature and able to resist slag attack. Proper preheating before first use and maintenance between pours are essential to preserve lining integrity and avoid metal penetration into the ladle shell.

Casting Filtration

Ceramic foam filters are used by automotive, pressure vessel, and precision casting foundries to achieve the inclusion-cleanliness levels required by their customers. Alumina filters suit grey and ductile iron and non-ferrous/aluminium casting; silicon carbide filters are preferred for steel and high-alloy iron; zirconia filters handle the highest-temperature steel casting applications.

Cupola & Electric Arc Furnaces

Cupola furnaces melting scrap iron with coke require refractory bricks rated for continuous high-temperature operation with coke combustion and acidic slag. Electric arc furnaces use magnesite-carbon bricks in the slag zone and high-alumina bricks elsewhere. Lining selection and campaign management are critical to operating cost and furnace availability.

03

Refractory Products

Refractory materials sourced and supplied by CFC Egypt's Trading Division — bricks, crucibles, and ceramic foam filters for iron and steel foundry operations.

  • Matériaux réfractaires

Refractory Products

Retardateur de prise et superplastifiant pour béton (ASTM C-494 - Type A, D & G)

Voir le produit

04

Questions fréquemment posées

Technical questions on refractory selection, crucible life, and casting filtration answered plainly. Contact our team for application-specific advice.

Refractory materials are inorganic, non-metallic materials that retain their structural integrity and resist chemical attack at elevated temperatures — typically above 600 °C. In iron and steel foundries they line the interiors of melting furnaces, holding ladles, and transfer channels, forming the barrier between molten metal and the furnace shell. Without an adequate refractory lining, molten metal would breach the shell within minutes. Refractories also include crucibles used in smaller induction furnaces and ceramic foam filters placed in the gating system to remove inclusions from the melt stream before it enters the mould cavity.

Common refractory brick types in iron foundry applications include high-alumina bricks (50–90% Al₂O₃) for general furnace linings and ladles; silica bricks for cupola and certain steel furnace applications; magnesia (MgO) bricks for basic steel furnaces and ladles where slag is basic; and silicon carbide bricks for areas with high abrasion such as siphon zones and tap holes. The choice depends on the furnace type, operating temperature, metal and slag chemistry, and the required lining life between relining campaigns. Beyond bricks, CFC supplies refractory masses and precast shapes for the ferrous and non-ferrous industry through its partner INSERTEC, which owns a quartzite mine supplying high-quality mineral.

CFC supplies refractory masses and precast shapes for the ferrous and non-ferrous industry through its partner INSERTEC, which owns a quartzite mine supplying high-quality mineral — giving customers consistent, controlled raw-material quality. The programme serves iron foundries, steel foundries and steel works, aluminium and non-ferrous foundries, cement plants, the glass industry, heat treatment, and frits & enamels production.

A ceramic foam filter is a porous cellular ceramic component placed in the runner system or in-gate of a mould to filter the molten metal stream before it enters the mould cavity. As metal passes through the tortuous pore structure of the filter, non-metallic inclusions — sand grains, slag particles, refractory fragments, and oxide films — are trapped on the filter surface or within its pores. The result is a cleaner metal fill with fewer inclusions, which improves the mechanical properties of the casting, reduces machining swarf from hard spots, and decreases the rejection rate for premium-quality castings.

Crucible life in an induction furnace depends on the metal being melted, the operating temperature, the chemical aggressiveness of the slag, and whether the crucible is run as a hot heel (partial emptying between heats) or cold start (fully emptied and cooled between heats). For grey and ductile iron melting in a medium-frequency induction furnace, well-maintained acidic (silica or quartz) crucibles can last 200–500 heats with hot heel operation. Cold starts impose thermal shock and reduce lining life. Regular inspection, maintenance of the sintered working lining, and avoiding contamination with basic slags extend lining campaign life.

CFC Egypt's Manufacturing Division produces castable refractories, ramming mixes, mortars, and insulating systems under the metallurgical chemicals product line. The Trading Division, by contrast, sources and trades refractory products — bricks, shaped preforms, crucibles, and ceramic foam filters — from specialist manufacturers and supplies them to foundries and steelmakers as part of a broader metallurgical supply. Customers requiring both manufactured and traded refractory products can consolidate their supply through CFC Egypt.

05

Catégories apparentées

Explore other product categories in CFC Egypt's Trading Division.

Trading

Ferro-alliages

Ferro silicon, ferro manganese, silicomanganese, nodulisers, and inoculants for iron and steel foundries.

Trading

Solutions métallurgiques

Melting furnaces, steel shots, and complete foundry consumable packages for the modern melt shop.

Trading

Manufactured Refractories

Castables, ramming mixes, mortars, and insulating systems produced by CFC Egypt's manufacturing division.

Division 03

Division commerciale

Browse the complete Trading Division — all categories and all traded materials.

Parlez-nous

Need refractory products for your furnace or casting line?

Tell us your furnace type, metal, operating temperature, and current lining material. Our team will advise on the correct refractory grade, crucible specification, or filter type — and support supply on your schedule.

Demande de devis Parcourir le catalogue