There are many kinds of unshaped refractories, which can be classified according to different classification methods. The following are their main classifications and specific types:

I. Classification by construction methods

Castable material: It is composed of refractory aggregate, powder and binder. During construction, liquid is added and stirred into slurry, which is molded by pouring. According to different fluidity, it can be divided into vibration molding castable, gravity molding castable and pumping castable.

Paint spraying: The unshaped refractory material is made into sprayable slurry, which is sprayed onto the construction surface by a spray gun to form a refractory layer.

Tamping material: it is composed of aggregate, fine powder, binder and liquid. It is constructed by ramming and needs to be dried after construction to obtain strength.

Plastic refractory: It has good plasticity. It can be shaped by manual or mechanical ramming during construction, and its strength can be obtained by natural drying or baking after construction.

Daubing material: unshaped refractory material that can be daubed on the construction site manually or mechanically.

Dry mixture: it is constructed by vibration or ramming in dry state, usually containing temporary binder, and its strength is obtained after baking.

Press-in material: the mixture constructed by a special press-injection machine.

II. Classification by binder type

Inorganic binder: including silicate, phosphate, sulfate, etc., such as phosphate bonded castable.

Organic binder: including resin, asphalt, etc., usually used in low or medium temperature environment.

III. Classification by refractory aggregate varieties

Heavy aggregate: such as silica, clay, high alumina, etc., suitable for high temperature environment.

Lightweight aggregate: such as perlite, vermiculite, mullite, etc., often used for heat insulation and heat preservation.

IV. Classification by purpose

Fire-resistant type: used in ordinary high-temperature environment, such as blast furnace, ladle, etc.

Fire-resistant and heat-insulating type: it has good heat-insulating performance, such as heat-insulating castable.

Fire-resistant and wear-resistant: suitable for high temperature and wear-resistant environment, such as blast furnace taphole.

Fire-resistant and alkali-resistant: suitable for alkaline environment, such as steelmaking furnace.

V. Classification by hardening mode

Hydraulicity: Hardening in water or humid air, such as cement bonded castable.

Gas hardness: Hardening in air, such as water glass binder.

Thermosetting: strength can only be obtained after high temperature baking.

VI. Classification by porosity

Dense type: low porosity and high strength, suitable for high temperature load-bearing parts.

Thermal insulation type: high porosity, good thermal insulation performance, suitable for thermal insulation parts.

VII. Classification by using temperature

High temperature type: the operating temperature is above 1500℃.

Medium temperature type: the use temperature is 1000℃-1500℃.

Low temperature type: the operating temperature is below 1000℃.

Unshaped refractories are widely used in metallurgy, building materials, chemical industry, electric power and other high-temperature industrial fields because of their flexible construction methods and diversified properties.