Book excerpt: The first book since 1974 written by a steelmaking end user and refractory engineer Why do you pick the refractory you do? How do you choose? Where do you start the selection process? The answers to these questions must always take into account the balance of competing interests among operations, purchasing, and the suppliers. Refractory Material Selection forSteelmaking is the ultimate guide to finding ideal answers to these questions. By following the step-by-step instructions—paired with detailed explanations and full-color diagrams—readers will be able to critically select the materials that are most appropriate for them. This book considers: The goals of refractory selection What causes refractories to wear out The properties of refractories and their raw materials Specific refractory applications Key strategies used to procure refractories Tom Vert's 25 years of experience in steelmaking combined with a ceramic engineering background provide comprehensive information that will benefit anyone working with refractories in steelmaking or any other industry.