Refractory Asset Protection for the Steel & Foundry Industry
Your refractory linings are critical assets — and in steel production, they're under constant attack. Electric arc furnaces cycle between ambient temperature and 3,000°F+ multiple times per day. Ladles endure thermal shock with every heat. Reheat furnaces run continuously, burning through fuel and lining material simultaneously. Every unplanned reline means lost production, lost revenue, and a crew working in dangerous conditions.
ITC ceramic refractory coatings are purpose-built for industrial asset protection — reflecting up to 98% of radiant heat back into the working zone and forming a hard ceramic barrier that shields your refractory assets from thermal shock, chemical attack, and erosion.
How ITC Coatings Protect Your Refractory Assets
ITC 100HT is a high-temperature ceramic coating rated to 5,000°F — well above the operating temperatures of any steelmaking process. Applied directly over brick, castable, or ceramic fiber linings, it creates a reflective barrier that fundamentally changes how heat moves through your furnace and how long your refractory assets last.
Instead of absorbing radiant energy and conducting it through the lining to the shell, the coated surface reflects that energy back into the melt zone. The result: your furnace reaches operating temperature faster, holds temperature with less fuel input, and your refractory assets endure significantly less thermal stress — extending their service life 2–5×.
Applications in Steel & Foundry
Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) — Coat deltas and other refractory, as well as electrodes to reduce thermal cycling damage, cut energy consumption per heat, and extend campaign life between relines.
Ladle Metallurgy Furnaces (LMF) — Protect ladle linings from thermal shock during preheat cycles. Reduce heat loss during transport to maintain tapping temperature without over-heating at the furnace. Reduce electrode consumption.
Reheat Furnaces — Coat the hot face of walking beam, pusher, and rotary hearth furnaces to improve radiant heat transfer to billets and slabs. Documented fuel savings of 10–33% depending on furnace configuration.
Tundishes & Transfer Vessels — Extend lining life and reduce iron contamination from refractory breakdown during continuous casting operations.
Induction Furnaces — Protect crucible linings in ferrous and non-ferrous foundries, reducing the frequency of costly relines.
Galvanizing - Coat snouts and kettles to increase lifespan
| Property | ITC 100HT |
|---|---|
| Maximum Service Temperature | 5,000°F (2,760°C) |
| Radiant Heat Reflection | 90–98% |
| Documented Fuel Savings | 10–33% |
| Refractory Life Extension | 2–5× |
| Application Method | Brush, spray, or trowel |
| Substrates | Brick, castable, ceramic fiber, IFB |
| Cure | Air dry + controlled heat-up |
Why Steel Operations Choose ITC for Refractory Asset Protection
ITC Coatings has been the steel industry's trusted partner for refractory asset protection since 1980. Our 5,000°F rating is the highest in the ceramic coating category — exceeding competitors by 1,800°F or more. Unlike coatings that degrade and flake under repeated thermal cycling, ITC 100HT bonds mechanically to the refractory substrate and maintains its reflective properties through thousands of heat cycles.
The economics of asset protection are straightforward: a single application costs a fraction of a reline and can extend your refractory asset life by 2–5×. On a reheat furnace burning $500,000+ in natural gas per year, even a 15% fuel reduction pays for the coating many times over — while protecting the lining that would cost far more to replace.
Ready to protect your refractory assets?
Contact us for a technical consultation and custom quote for your steel or foundry operation.