High quality steel production requires extended treatment of the steel in the steel
ladle. This has a remarkable impact on the steel ladle refractories, e.g. the need for high
performance functional refractories like purging plugs. Operational changes such as
increasing tapping temperatures, longer hold times and more aggressive secondary
metallurgy are countered by the need for thinner refractory linings and longer refractories
life. These combined factors have led to a resurgence in interest in magnesium aluminate
spinel raw materials.