DIFK GmbH,the German Institute for Refractory and Ceramics GmbH, seated in Bonn, is the central Institution in its industrial sector for more than half a century. DIFK is an independent test laboratory, works according to international standards, rules and regulations, carries out analyses and developments in the field of refractories and ceramics and is dedicated to industry requirements:

? Characterisation of raw materials
? Testing refractory products
? Analysis of damage events
? Standardisation, patent
- and literature research services.DIFK is a DAP accredited test laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000.

Chemical, physical, mineralogical and thermomechanical analyses are implemented to characterise refractory ceramics. Among others the following analyses and test procedures shall be pointed out: definition of SiC, CO test, corrosion test by using induction and rotary kiln, pore distribution, laser granulometry, microscopy at increased temperature, electrical and thermal conductivity, refractoriness under load and creep in compression up to 1700°C.

DIFK develops new testing methods and improves existing methods regarding their quantitative informational value, in collaboration with the Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V., the refractory research group. In this regard, the close cooperation with raw material suppliers, the refractory industry as well as refractory consumers is of eminent importance.

Representative development tasks are actually:

? Quantitative determination of chemical corrosion in refractory materials for metallurgy, glass manufacturers, waste incineration.
? Quantitative determination of oxidation of carbonaceous refractory materials in different atmospheres.
? Quantitative description of thermomechanical behaviour of refractory materials before, during and after technical application.
? Quantitative measurement of frictional and abrasional wear.