Over the decades, the refractories industry has continuously worked to advance the body of knowledge and technology, and improve products, which has resulted in countless major and minor improvements, as confirmed by the improved performance and increased service life of refractories. And, a significant reduction in the refractory usage in most manufacturing applications (markets) has resulted in a continual decrease in annual refractory production of most industrialized nations (China excluded). Several examples of notable refractory improvements are:

1. Increased attention to the fine, ultrafine, and nanoscale particles included in refractory mixes,
2. Development of alumina-chromia refractories,
3. Steel ladle refractories: bloating fireclay, zircon-pyrophyllite, alumina-magnesia-carbon,
4. Zirconia addition to refractories for thermal shock resistance.