An unshaped product including, as weight percentages, A) particles (a) of at least one refractory material other than a glass and a glass-ceramic, and the main constituent(s) of which are alumina and/or zirconia and/or silica and/or chromium oxide: B) 2% to 15% of particles (b) of a hot binder chosen from glass-ceramic particles, particles made of a glass, and the mixtures of these particles, a glass being a noncrystalline material exhibiting a glass transition temperature of less than 1100 C., the hot binder not being in the solid state at 1500 C., C) less than 2% of particles (c) of hydraulic cement, D) less than 7% of other constituents, the combined particles (a) and (b) being distributed, as weight percentages in the following way: fraction <0.5 m: 1%, fraction <2 m: 4%, fraction <10 m: 13%, fraction <40 m: 25%-52%.

An unshaped product including, as weight percentages, A) particles (a) of at least one refractory material other than a glass and a glass-ceramic, and the main constituent(s) of which are alumina and/or zirconia and/or silica and/or chromium oxide: B) 2% to 15% of particles (b) of a hot binder chosen from glass-ceramic particles, particles made of a glass, and the mixtures of these particles, a glass being a noncrystalline material exhibiting a glass transition temperature of less than 1100 C., the hot binder not being in the solid state at 1500 C., C) less than 2% of particles (c) of hydraulic cement, D) less than 7% of other constituents, the combined particles (a) and (b) being distributed, as weight percentages in the following way: fraction <0.5 m: 1%, fraction <2 m: 4%, fraction <10 m: 13%, fraction <40 m: 25%-52%.

The invention relates to a use of a refractory material for contact with a liquid metal or alloy, a method for the manufacture of an article made of said material, the article so obtained and a method of use of said article. The refractory material is obtained from a mixture comprising from 0 wt. % to 40 wt. % of aggregates and/or fmes of zirconia; from 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % of aggregates and/or fmes of alumina; and from 20 wt. % to 50 wt. % of aggregates and/or fines of mullite; formed into a desired shape and then subjected to a heating treatment at a temperature of from 750 C. to 1500 C.

A refractory article can include a body including a content of alumina of at least 60 wt %, a content of silica of not greater than 20 wt %, a content of zirconia of not greater than 20 wt % for a total weight of the body. In a particular embodiment, the body includes a third phase including composite grains including mullite and zirconia. The third phase including the composite grains can be present within a range including at least 1 wt % and not greater than 35 wt % for a total weight of the body.

A refractory article can include a body including a content of alumina of at least 60 wt %, a content of silica of not greater than 20 wt %, a content of zirconia of not greater than 20 wt % for a total weight of the body. In a particular embodiment, the body includes a third phase including composite grains including mullite and zirconia. The third phase including the composite grains can be present within a range including at least 1 wt % and not greater than 35 wt % for a total weight of the body.

A housing for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The housing is composed of yttria-sensitized zirconia. Yttria-sensitized zirconia has from about 1.5 to about 2.5 mole percent yttria, and more typically about 2 mole percent yttria, and most typically 2 mole percent yttria, in zirconia. Yttria-sensitized zirconia is both tough and able to limit the formation and propagation of micro-cracks. Methods for manufacturing yttria-sensitized zirconia composed housings are also disclosed.

Low-carbon monolithic refractories are provided. Methods of manufacturing glass employing low-carbon monolithic refractories are also provided. Methods and apparatuses for glass manufacture for reducing the formation of carbon dioxide blisters during glass manufacture are also provided.

A shaped and fired coarse ceramic refractory product and a process for the preparation of the product and use the product, the shaped and fired coarse ceramic refractory product comprises (a) a chemical composition comprising a content of Al.sub.2O.sub.3: at least 40 wt.-%: Y.sub.2O.sub.3: 2.0-57 wt.-%; ZrO.sub.2: below 42.0 wt.-%; and (b) a bond matrix comprising at least an yttria-containing crystalline mixed oxide with cubic modification cubic modification of the ternary system Al.sub.2O.sub.3Y.sub.2O.sub.3ZrO.sub.2.

A shaped and fired coarse ceramic refractory product and a process for the preparation of the product and use the product, the shaped and fired coarse ceramic refractory product comprises (a) a chemical composition comprising a content of Al.sub.2O.sub.3: at least 40 wt.-%: Y.sub.2O.sub.3: 2.0-57 wt.-%; ZrO.sub.2: below 42.0 wt.-%; and (b) a bond matrix comprising at least an yttria-containing crystalline mixed oxide with cubic modification cubic modification of the ternary system Al.sub.2O.sub.3Y.sub.2O.sub.3ZrO.sub.2.

A refractory to be used repeatedly or for a long period of time, such as a refractory for casting, especially a nozzle for casting and an SN plate, has improved tolerance. The refractory for casting contains Al.sub.4O.sub.4C in the range of 15 to 60% by mass, both inclusive, an Al component as a metal in the range of 1.2 to 10.0% by mass, both inclusive, and a balance including Al.sub.2O.sub.3, a free C, and other refractory component; a sum of Al.sub.4O.sub.4C, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and the Al component as a metal is 85% or more by mass; and a content of Al.sub.4O.sub.4C (Al.sub.4O.sub.4C), a content of the Al component as a metal (Al), and a content of the free carbon (C). The contact of the free carbon satisfies the following Equation 1 and Equation 2:
1.0C/(Al.sub.4O.sub.4C0.038+Al0.33)(Equation 1)
and
1.0C/(Al.sub.4O.sub.4C0.13+Al0.67)(Equation 2).