Industrial high-temperature processes, in which refractories are involved, request flexible temperature control and frequent thermal cycling. For the refractories, the resulting thermal shock is the predominant factor that shortens ther service life. R&D on refractories with superior resistance to thermal shock is therefore an ongoing concern for research centres and producers of refractories. Technological testing methods to determine the thermal shock resistance at a laboratory scale significantly support the development of improved refractories.
