Abstract: A coating composition that enables refractory materials such as ceramics to be joined to one another or to metallic components using brazing filler metals. The composition is applied on selected areas of the refractory material to define a target area for brazing. In one embodiment, the coating composition includes (i) a Group IVB transition metal component selected from the group consisting of a Group IVB transition metal, a hydride thereof, and mixtures of the Group IVB metals and/or hydrides thereof, (ii) a binder material, and (iii) a fluid carrier. In disclosed embodiments, the Group IVB transition metal component is titanium, and the binder material is a combination of a hydrocarbon resin and a styrene block copolymer.