Castables are generally referred to as refractory concretes. They are available in a wide varietyofbase materials and typically consist of a refractory aggregate, special purpose additives and a cement binder. The bonding systems used are often used to classify the types of castables into four categories: conventional, lowcement, ultra-low cement and lime-free castables.

Mortars contain finely ground refractory materials the are blended with water chemical attack. They are utilized for laying and bonding shaped refractory prodcut like bricks. They are usually applied by trowelling.

Refractory bricks or fire bricks are the type of bricks which can withstand high temperature as a construction material. The color of fire bricks is usually white, or yellowish white, and they weigh about 3 kg each. They must have a high fusion point.

Precast monolithic shapes have been used in high temperature applications for nearly as long as monolithic castables have been commercially available. These shapes have supplemented or replaced other finished refractory goods such as bricks and isostatically pressed products in many applications. The removal of liquid solvents (i.e. water) prior to installation into a high temperature application was one of the advantages of a precast monolithic shape, as this eliminated the dry-out step required after most monolithic refractory installations performed at the job site.