Abstract: The corrosion and erosion resistance of ceramic bodies, such as submerged pouring shrouds and nozzles, exposed to molten steel and slag during continuous casting, is improved by applying a layer of a ceramic material to the exposed surfaces by plasma spraying. The apparent porosity of the coating is at least 15% lower than that of the ceramic body. Corrosion and erosion resistant material suitable for such plasma sprayed coatings on alumina-graphite and zirconia-graphite bodies include one or more as mixtures or compounds of the following: zirconia; chromium oxide; alumina; silica; magnesia; zirconium silicate; and titanium oxide. A corrosion and erosion resistant coating system for fused silica, which is also resistant to thermal cracking, includes an outer coating of a plasma sprayed ceramic material, such as zirconia, and one or more intermediate layers of plasma sprayed material containing varying amounts of zirconium silicate.