Composite metallic and refractory article and method of manufacturing the article

A method of manufacturing a composite article comprising a metallic portion and a refractory portion bonded together comprising:

• disposing a first refractory member in contact with a molten metal, said refractory member having a predetermined thickness of a first solid refractory material extending from an exposed surface of said refractory member to define a refractory-metal interface within said refractory member, said refractory member including a second, porous refractory material extending from said refractory-metal interface to a metal contacting surface of said refractory member, where said second, porous refractory material has a porosity gradient generally increasing from said refractory-metal interface to said metal contacting surface and where the metal has a coefficient of thermal expansion at least twice the coefficient of thermal expansion of said second refractory material;
• securing a second, distinct porous refractory member to said first refractory member, said second refractory member having a greater porosity than said second refractory material of said first refractory member;
• applying a force between 140 and 1400 kilograms per square centimeter to said molten metal to cause said molten metal to penetrate through said second more porous refractory member and into said second, porous refractory material of said first refractory member;
• and
• solidifying said molten metal.