Refractory checker brick modules for glass furnace regenerators are provided which include multiple preformed refractory checker bricks (e.g., tubular checker bricks, cruciform checker bricks, interweave checker bricks, interlock checker bricks, pigeon-hole checker bricks, basket weave checker bricks and the like) stacked in multiple off-set courses to form a honeycomb structure thereof, the checker bricks in the module being bonded to one another by a bonding agent.

Refractory checker brick modules for glass furnace regenerators are provided which include multiple preformed refractory checker bricks (e.g., tubular checker bricks, cruciform checker bricks, interweave checker bricks, interlock checker bricks, pigeon-hole checker bricks, basket weave checker bricks and the like) stacked in multiple off-set courses to form a honeycomb structure thereof, the checker bricks in the module being bonded to one another by a bonding agent.

A replacement product for a portion of a castable refractory surface contains a precast refractory piece with accommodation for an adjustable positioning structure for conforming the working surface of the precast refractory piece to the castable refractory surface. A process for installing the precast refractory piece includes positioning the precast refractory piece with respect to the castable refractory surface, and introducing castable material into an interface volume between the precast refractory piece and the castable refractory surface.

A replacement product for a portion of a castable refractory surface contains a precast refractory piece with accommodation for an adjustable positioning structure for conforming the working surface of the precast refractory piece to the castable refractory surface. A process for installing the precast refractory piece includes positioning the precast refractory piece with respect to the castable refractory surface, and introducing castable material into an interface volume between the precast refractory piece and the castable refractory surface.

A stave comprising an outer housing, an inner pipe circuit comprising individual pipes housed within the outer housing, wherein the individual pipes each has an inlet end and an outlet end and wherein each pipe may or may not be mechanically connected to another pipe, and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing; wherein the inlet and/or outlet ends of each individual pipe is disposed in or housed by the manifold. The manifold may be made of carbon steel while the housing may be made of copper. Each of the inlet and outlet ends of each individual pipe may be surrounded in part by cast copper within a housing of the manifold.

A stave comprising an outer housing, an inner pipe circuit comprising individual pipes housed within the outer housing, wherein the individual pipes each has an inlet end and an outlet end and wherein each pipe may or may not be mechanically connected to another pipe, and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing; wherein the inlet and/or outlet ends of each individual pipe is disposed in or housed by the manifold. The manifold may be made of carbon steel while the housing may be made of copper. Each of the inlet and outlet ends of each individual pipe may be surrounded in part by cast copper within a housing of the manifold.

An abrasion-resistant material for the working face of a metallurgical furnace cooling element such as a stave cooler or a tuyere cooler having a body comprised of a first metal. The abrasion-resistant material comprises a macro-composite material including abrasion-resistant particles which are arranged in a substantially repeating, engineered configuration infiltrated with a matrix of a second metal, the particles having a hardness greater than that of the second metal. A cooling element for a metallurgical furnace has a body comprised of the first metal, the body having a facing layer comprising the abrasion-resistant material. A method comprises: positioning the engineered configuration of abrasion-resistant particles in a mold cavity, the engineered configuration located in an area of the mold cavity to define the facing layer; and introducing molten metal into the cavity, the molten metal comprising the first metal of the cooling element body.

An abrasion-resistant material for the working face of a metallurgical furnace cooling element such as a stave cooler or a tuyere cooler having a body comprised of a first metal. The abrasion-resistant material comprises a macro-composite material including abrasion-resistant particles which are arranged in a substantially repeating, engineered configuration infiltrated with a matrix of a second metal, the particles having a hardness greater than that of the second metal. A cooling element for a metallurgical furnace has a body comprised of the first metal, the body having a facing layer comprising the abrasion-resistant material. A method comprises: positioning the engineered configuration of abrasion-resistant particles in a mold cavity, the engineered configuration located in an area of the mold cavity to define the facing layer; and introducing molten metal into the cavity, the molten metal comprising the first metal of the cooling element body.

In a monolithic refractory, in terms of a proportion in 100 mass % of a refractory raw material having a grain size of 8 mm or smaller, an amount of Ca.sub.XSr.sup.1XAl.sub.2O.sub.4 (where, 0X0.5) is 0.5 mass % or more and 10 mass % or less, and a polyvalent metal salt of oxycarboxylic acid is 0.05 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less.

In a monolithic refractory, in terms of a proportion in 100 mass % of a refractory raw material having a grain size of 8 mm or smaller, an amount of Ca.sub.XSr.sup.1XAl.sub.2O.sub.4 (where, 0X0.5) is 0.5 mass % or more and 10 mass % or less, and a polyvalent metal salt of oxycarboxylic acid is 0.05 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less.