Abstract: Method of lining a steel-making furnace which comprises lining the bottom area of the furnace with bricks to form a first lining, lining at least a portion of the wall area of the furnace with bricks and/or a water cooling box to form a second lining, lining the first lining and a lower portion of the second lining with a first refractory material, applying a second refractory material to an upper portion of the second lining above the lower portion before heating the furnace, and then heating the second refractory material to cause hardening thereof. The second refractory material comprises magnesium oxide, green chromium oxide, clay, a phosphate, a bisulfate and water. The use of this composition for the second refractory material results in a substantial increase in the durability of the furnace lining.

Abstract: Parts subject to wear, which come into contact with metal melts, are formed with a hydraulically setting high-alumina refractory concrete having a compression strength when cold, measured on dried crude product, of at least 400 kp/cm.sup.2. The compression strength is at least 700 kp/cm.sup.2 after firing at 1400.degree. C. The refractory concrete has a dimensional stability at 1400.degree. C. of at least plus or minus 0.2%. The refractory concrete contains corundum and active alumina as aggregates, an alumina concrete containing less than 22% lime and, as required, a thinning agent. Up to 5% of the aggregates can be replaced by a spinel-forming substance preferably MgO or MgO-yielding compounds; or up to 5% of the aggregates can be replaced by carbon black, pitch or graphite; or up to 7% of the aggregates can be replaced by chromium oxide. Aggregates under 0.5 mm can be present in the refractory concrete as round grains.