Refractories Testing and Consultancy Centre of Excellence
End‑to‑end refractories development, testing, and characterization from raw materials and formulations to in‑service performance and failure analysis.
Lucideon's Refractories Centre of Excellence brings together our long‑standing refractories expertise and expanded laboratory capability into one modern facility. With investment supported by the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium (FISC), the centre now hosts custom capabilities for both conventional and novel testing protocols, covering mixing and casting through to performance evaluation and failure analysis, providing a single destination for complex, large‑scale refractories projects.
What we do
Accredited testing & characterization
As a UKAS ISO 17025‑accredited testing laboratory (No. 0013), we test to national (BS, ASTM etc.), international (ISO) and in‑house UKAS‑accredited methods, delivering physical, chemical, mineralogical, and thermomechanical data you can rely on.
Our materials testing & assurance capabilities are underpinned by decades of independent materials science expertise and facilities in the UK and US, helping clients across diverse sectors to improve performance, profitability and sustainability.
Typical refractories evaluations we perform
- Physical performance - compressive strength, abrasion/erosion resistance, density/porosity and dimensional stability across a wide temperature range
- Thermomechanical behaviour - high‑temperature mechanical, thermal cycling/thermal shock evaluation, expansion/contraction and creep under load
- Chemical & mineralogical analysis - composition verification and phase identification to support selection, quality control, and failure investigations
- Failure analysis - root‑cause diagnosis of lining and component failures, correlating processing history, microstructure and service environment to recommend corrective actions
From test data to insight: Unlike test‑only labs, we deliver interpretation and actionable recommendations alongside data, using our cross‑industry consultancy and pilot‑scale facilities.
Why the Refractories Centre of Excellence
- End‑to‑end capability for refractories from materials preparation and formulation to testing and failure analysis
- Novel protocols and customized rigs to address emerging needs (e.g., decarbonization, reformulation, and new process concepts) where standard tests may not tell the whole story
- Independent expertise & UKAS accreditation, providing confidence in results and traceability to recognized standards
- Integrated training & knowledge transfer for teams across manufacturing, installation, and operations including refractories courses delivered on site
- Access to AMRICC Centre pilot‑scale manufacturing capabilities hosted at our Stone UK site, enabling accelerated development of products
Who we help
We support organizations operating in glass, metals, cement, energy/power, chemicals, and advanced manufacturing.
Typical engagements
- Qualification & compliance - independent type testing to BS/ASTM/ISO and in‑house UKAS methods, with certificates and reports suitable for regulatory or customer acceptance
- Troubleshooting & failure investigations - rapid diagnosis of failure modes (thermal, chemical, or mechanical)
- Reformulation & optimization - material selection, mix design and processing adjustments to hit cost‑in‑use, campaign life, and sustainability targets
- Customized test development - design and validation of custom methods to replicate service conditions where standards are incompatible
Training & knowledge transfer
Strengthen your team's understanding of refractories with modular training programs that cover manufacturing through to end‑use. Courses can be delivered on‑site at the Refractories Centre of Excellence and the AMRICC Centre, with live demonstrations of our facilities.
Equipment, resources and facilities in the Refractories Centre of Excellence
The Carbolite high‑temperature laboratory furnace provides a stable, uniform thermal environment for heating materials to defined temperatures under controlled conditions
The Carbolite PCE furnace enhances our capability to determine the Pyrometric Cone Equivalent of refractory materials
The Carbolite resistance‑heated RUL and creep furnace strengthens our high‑temperature mechanical testing capability for refractory materials
The GrindoSonic resonant frequency system coupled with a high‑temperature furnace expands our capability to measure the elastic properties of refractory and ceramic materials as a function of temperature
The automated hot-to-hot thermal shock furnace strengthens our ability to assess the thermal shock resistance of refractory materials under severe temperature cycling conditions
The NETZSCH dilatometer strengthens our thermal analysis capability with high-resolution measurement of dimensional change versus temperature
Dedicated sampling and preparation equipment to support end‑to‑end refractory evaluation, from initial mixing and forming to precision specimen preparation for standardized testing and failure investigation
The Ultratest IP‑8 ultrasonic curing profile system enables ultrasonic setting measurements in a controlled atmosphere for refractory and ceramic materials
Further resources
Installing Refractory Linings in Petrochemical Units - Quality, not Compromise
Battery Saggar Material Testing and Screening for Improved Lifespan