The India International Refractories Congress (IREFCON), an exciting platform for interacting with the global refractories community, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing, recently concluded its fifteenth edition in Goa. A biannual event held since 1994, this year’s congress brought together academic organizations, R&D institutes and industry experts to present technical papers and case studies aligned with the pressing challenges and advancements in the refractories sector.

On the final day of the congress, Harikeshava RANGANATHAN, a CESAREF doctoral candidate, showcased his innovative work to a captivated audience. His presentation focused on his innovative work using Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) to understand microcrack engineering in aluminum titanate microstructures. This work contributes to the broader goal of using microcrack engineering to enhance thermal shock resistance in refractories, which is crucial for high-temperature industrial applications. His presentation highlighted the potential of DEM for optimizing refractory microstructures and improving their performance in demanding environments. This research is part of the CESAREF project’s efforts to develop advanced numerical tools for refractory materials design.