Refractory composition

A process for producing a refractory material comprising the steps of:

• (a) mixing raw materials consisting essentially of from about 10 to 30 parts by weight of a primary alumina-magnesia spinel material comprising from about 40 to 75% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from about 25 to 60% by weight of MgO, from about 70 to 90 parts by weight of a magnesia material containing at least about 90% by weight of MgO, and from about 1 to 10 parts by weight of a alumina material having an average particle size of less than about 10 microns to form a kneaded mixture;
• (b) molding said kneaded mixture to a desired form;
• (c) drying said molded form;
• and
• (d) firing said dried molded form under an oxidizing atmosphere, so as to form in a matrix portion of said refractory material between said primary spinel and said magnesia material, a secondary spinel structure with said magnesia material;
• wherein said refractory material comprises from about 10 to 25% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from about 75 to 90% by weight of MgO.