Abstract: Discloses a method of applying an amorphous fused silica coating to a substance of refractory non-metallic material. High temperature arc plasma from an arc plasma spray gun is projected onto the substrate surface; and particles of a material consisting essentially of crystalline silica are fed into the plasma, where they are melted and entrained in the plasma. The gun is held close enough to the substrate to effect melting of the surface of the substrate, or the previously-applied material, in the region where the molten drops of silica entrained in the plasma are impinging against said surface.