The Concerted European Action on Sustainable Application of REFractories ( is a consortium created to drive sustainable refractory materials and processes in steel production. This project which runs from 2022 2025 seeks to improve the microstructure for increased sustainability and thermo mechanical performances of refractory castables. In this work, different formulations of alumina spinel refractory castables are considered The main objective is to propose a new design for the microstructure of refractory materials with improved thermo mechanical properties by considering • The nature of aggregates ( crystallinity, physical properties • The arrangement of the calcium aluminate phases network (formation temperatures, unique formation mechanisms, location and morphology)