Refractories Testing and Consultancy Centre of Excellence
End‑to‑end refractories development, testing, and characterisation 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 & characterisation
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 customised rigs to address emerging needs (e.g., decarbonisation, 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 recognised 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 organisations 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 & optimisation - material selection, mix design and processing adjustments to hit cost‑in‑use, campaign life, and sustainability targets
- Customised 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 programmes 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.