The Gustav Eirich Award

The aim of this award is to promote ideas and, at the same time, to support young talents in technical disciplines.

The Gustav Eirich Award is a contribution to the long-term success of companies in the refractories production and application industries.

The Gustav Eirich Award is presented for the three best dissertations (Ph.D. theses) or equivalent work in the field of refractories that have been completed no longer than two years ago.

Applications for the 2025 Gustav Eirich Award are invited until 31^st May 2025. To apply, please see the "Guidelines for application" below.

The 2025 Gustav Eirich Award will be presented during the “International Colloquium on Refractories” ICR on 17 and 18 September 2025 in Aachen, Germany.

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What is the Gustav Eirich Award presented for?

You can apply with:

Your dissertation to obtain a Ph.D. degree
and/or individual research with a scientific content equal to that of a dissertation for a Ph.D. degree e.g. habilitation, post-doc work.

Your work, with which you apply for the Gustav Eirich Award, may cover any topic in the field of refractories (i.e. raw materials, innovative refractories, testing, application of the refractories in process industries...). However, the evaluation criteria of the Gustav Eirich Award focus on the transfer of knowledge from science into industrial applications. Therefore, thesis dealing with the basic science of refractories are not in the direct scope of the Gustav Eirich Award.

Please state the starting and finishing dates of the work you apply with the CV form. The work should have been completed no longer than two years ago. Participation with the same work is only allowed once.

What is the Gustav Eirich Award presented for?

Prizes

1^st Prize:	3.000 €
2^nd Prize:	2.000 €
3^rd Prize:	1.000 €

Winners of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes in 2024 will give an invited lecture during an award ceremony at the“International Colloquium on Refractories” ICR in Aachen, Germany.

The winners will receive free travel and free entrance to ICR.

The placement of the winners will be announced at the award ceremony.

The winners will also be invited to submit a paper for publication in the journal "refractories WORLDFORUM".

Who is behind the Gustav Eirich Award?

Since the invention of the Eirich mixing principle over 80 years ago, the worldwide refractories industry has been a core market for Gustav Eirich Maschinenfabrik, the Hardheim-based engineering companay in Germany.

The ECREF European Centre for Refractories gem. GmbH as science supporting institution of the German Refractories Association aims to encourage young academics and effectively publicize their knowledge with this contest of excellence.

Who is behind the Gustav Eirich Award?

Guidelines for application

To apply for the Gustav Eirich Award, please submit:

A curriculum vita (use this template)
A copy of your Ph.D. certificate, which shows the date you were awarded your Ph.D.
An abstract of your Ph.D. thesis according to the following rules:
- Max. 4 pages
- English language
- A4 or letter format
- Font size not smaller than 10 pt
Please submit all documents as individual PDF files. You may bundle them into a ZIP archive if you wish.

Evaluation criteria

You apply for the Gustav Eirich Award with a four-page abstract of your work. Please note, that only this abstract will be evaluated.

The evaluation criteria for the Gustav Eirich Award will be exclusively focused on the possibilities of transfer of new refractory knowledge (provided by your thesis) to real industrial applications (from science to industry). You should thus present your work in a specific way that highlights this potential transfer into the refractory industry or process industry where refractories are being used.

The excellence of your work (new knowledge/new materials/new process/new services) will specifically be evaluated taking into account the following criteria:

How your work could contribute to an improvement of resource efficiency?
How your work could contribute to an improvement of energy efficiency or/and a reduction of greenhouse gases?
How your work could contribute to an enhancement of process efficiency for refractory producers or for refractory end-users?
How modelling in your work could be apply to improvement of industrial processes?

In addition to these, two further criteria will be also considered:

To what extend your work could be widely understood and integrated by the refractory or the process industry, and applied quickly in real life?
How well your four-page abstract clearly explains how your work specifically addresses one or more of the four aforementioned criteria?

Evaluation criteria

Members of the evaluation panel

The economy is represented on the jury by:

Manuel Miranda Martinez, IDONIAL, Spain
Thomas Auer, Böhler Edelstahl GmbH, Austria
William L Headrick Jr PhD, RHI Magnesita, USA

The science is represented on the jury by:

Dr. Patrick Gehre, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
Prof. Marc Huger, ENSCI Limoges, France
Prof. Jacek Szczerba, AGH Dept. f. Ceramics & Refractories, Poland

Organisers

Stephan Eirich, Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co KG, Germany
Dr. Christian Dannert, ECREF European Centre for Refractories gem. GmbH, Germany

List of former winners

Foto: Jennifer Wolf

1st Prize

Dr. Audrey Tixier

Ecole des Mines Saint-Etienne, France
"Formulation and modelling of the shaping of SiC refractory tiles for waste-to-energy facilities"

2nd Prize

Dr. Maciej Ludwig

AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland
"Recycled aggregate as raw material in MgO-C technology"

3rd Prize

Dr. Dominik Hahn

Universität Koblenz, Germany
"Structural analysis of phosphate-bonded Al2O3-MgAl2O4-high-temperature ceramics"

1st Prize

Dr. Johannes Kasper

Universität Koblenz-Landau, Germany
"Setting models for PCE-dispersed and calcium-aluminate-cement-bonded refracory castables"

2nd Prize

Dr. Diana Vitiello

University of Limoges, France
"Thermo-physical properties of insulating refractory materials"

3rd Prize

Dr. Jakub Stec

AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland
"3-D pore structure and infiltration resistance of micropore carbon materials"

1st Prize

Dr. Lise Loison

RWTH Aachen University, Germany
High temperature corrosion of calcium hexa-aluminate with biomass slag

2nd Prize

Dr. Imad Khlifi

University of Limoges, France
Optimisation of optical methods for strain field measurments dedicated to the characterisation of the fracture behaviour of refractories: Application to magnesia based materials

3rd Prize

Dr. Fangguan Tan

Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Study on failure and refining effect of purging plug with different slits

Andreas Hermann (ECREF)
Stephan Eirich
Dr. Andrzej Warchal (1st prize)
Dr. Stephan Clasen (2nd prize)
Dr. Fu Lvping (3rd prize)
Dr. Christian Dannert (ECREF)
Thomas Seger

1st Prize

PhD Andrzej Warchal

Université de Limoges, France
Study of the Influence of additives (antioxidants) on the thermomechanical properties of carbon-bonded refractory composites.

2nd Prize

Dr. rer. nat. Stephan Clasen

Universität Koblenz Landau, Germany
Contribution to analysis and understanding of molten steel infiltration into the gas purging slits of gas purging plugs

3rd Prize

Dr. Fu Lvping

Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Design, fabrication and application of lightweight alumina used for wear lining materials

Dipl.-Betriebswirt Thomas Seger
Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Peter Quirmbach
Dr. Xiong Liang
Dr. IIlona Jastrzebska
Dr. José Ramón Campello Garcia
Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Eirich

1st Prize

Dr. José Ramón Campello Garcia

University of Oviedo, Fundación ITMA, Llanera, Spain
Development of Söderberg carbon electrodes bonded with a carbon nanofiber reinforced coal-tar pitch

2nd Prize

Dr. IIona Jastrzebska

Department of Ceramics and Refractories, AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland
Hercynite solid solutions Synthesis, Properties and Applications

3rd Prize

Dr. Xiong Liang

The Key State Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
The design of three-layered struts to strengthen SiC reticulated porous ceramics for porous media combustion

1st Prize

Adrian Villalba Weinberg, PhD

Ecole des Mines de Saint-Etienne and CEMHTI-CNRS Orléans, France
Understanding the failure and development of innovative refractory materials for hazardous waste incinerators

2nd Prize

Edyta Sniezek, PhD

Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology
Magnesia-zirconia refractory materials with aluminate phases

3rd Prize

Junfeng Chen, PhD

The Key State Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology
The microstructure design of the bonding system and novel technical routes for Si3N4 bonded SiC refractories

Prof. Dr. Peter Quirmbach
Dr. Qinghu Wang
Dr. Nora Brachold
Dr. Younes Belrhiti
Dr. Andreas Seiler

1st Prize

Dr. Nora Brachold

Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg
Alkali corrosion resistant heat insulation materials

2nd Prize

Dr. Younes Belrhiti

University of Limoges / CNRS SPCTS
Strain Field measurements: novel engineering approach to enrich the characterization of Refractories with non-linear mechanical behavior

3rd Prize

Dr. Qinghu Wang

Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Development of Novel Carbon Sources of strengthen and toughen Carbon containing Refractories

Prof. Dr. Peter Quirmbach
Prof. F. Golestani
(as representative for Dr. Khezrabad)
Romain Boigelot
Dr. Marcus Emmel
Dr. Christoph Heynen

1st Prize

Romain Boigelot, PhD

Université d'Orléans, CEMHTI, UPR3079 CNRS, Orléans, France
Corrosion of high alumina castables by liquid ashes during the gasification of sewage sludge

2nd Prize

Dr. Marcus Emmel

Technical University of Freiberg, Institute of Ceramic Glass and Construction Materials, Freiberg, Germany
Development of Active and Reactive Carbon Bonded Filter Materials for Steel Melt Filration

3rd Prize

Dr. Nouri Khezrabad

Iran University of Science and Technology, School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Tehran, Iran
Novel Engineering Route to Improve the Green Mechanical Properties of Nano-Bonded Refractory Castables

Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Eirich
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Jörg Zimmermann
Dr. Rudy Michel
Dr. Dominika Madej
Prof. Dr. Peter Quirmbach

1st Prize

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Jörg Zimmermann

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
Development of an innovative unshaped refractory castable for the application in the slag runner of cupola furnaces

2nd Prize

Dr. Dominika Madej

AGH, University of Science and Technology, Krakau, Poland
Corrosion of Al2SiO5-SiC and Al2SiO5-ZrSiO4 refractories in the corroding medium of the external heat exchanger of cement kiln

3rd Prize

Dr. Rudy Michel

CNRS-CEMHTI, Orléans, France
Behaviour of olivine refractories: agglomeration of fluidized bed reactor and interaction with Al-killed steel

Dr. Christoph Heynen
Tiago M. Souza, Ph.D.
Dipl.-Ing. Patrick Gehre
Dr. Bai Cui
Prof. Dr. Peter Quirmbach

1st Prize

Dipl.-Ing. Patrick Gehre

TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Possible desing of chrome oxide free refractory castables with corrosion resistance against molten coal slag for use in slagging gasifiers

2nd Prize

Tiago M. Souza, Ph.D.

Federal Unirversity of Sao Carlos, Brazil
Novel Technological Route to Overcome the Challenging Magnesia Hydration of Cement-Free Alumina Castables

3rd Prize

Dr. Bai Cui

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Microstructural Evolution and Oxidation Behaviour of Spark Plasma Sintered Mn+1AXn Ceramics

Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Eirich
Jinichiro Nakano, Ph.D.
Dipl.-Ing. Volker Stein
Rafael Guimaraes de Sa, Ph.D.
Dipl.Bw. Thomas Seger

1st Prize

Jinichiro Nakano, Ph.D

National Energy Technology Lab / URS, Albany, USA
A comprehensive study of modern gasification slags and refractory used in gasifiers to guide the development of novel/improved lining materials.

2nd Prize

Dipl.-Ing. Volker Stein

TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Contribution for the Characteristic Improvement of Carbon Bonded Doloma Refractories by addition of TiO2r

3rd Prize

Rafael Guimaraes de Sa, Ph.D.

Department of Materials of Imperial College, London , UK
In-situ and ex-situ incorporation of carbon nanostructures into ceramiccarbon-metal nanocomposites

Dipl.Bw. Thomas Seger
Dipl.-Ing. Christian Brüggmann
Dr. Franz Melcher
M.Sc. Vasileios Roungous
Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Eirich

1st Prize

M. Sc. Vasileios Roungous

TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Prospects of developing self glazing AI2O3-C refractories for monobloc stopper applications

2nd Prize

Dr. Franz Melcher

TREIBACHER INDUSTRIE AG, Althofen, Austria
Experimental studies of the influence between different ladle slags and refractory wear inside of ladles and RH-degasser

3rd Prize

Dipl.-Ing. Christian Brüggmann

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V., Bonn, Germany
Contribution to the slagging of MgO in secondary metallurgical slags

Dr. Wolfgang Schärfl
Dr. Marina Braulio
Dr. Robert Sauerbrey

1st Prize

Dr. Mariana Braulio

Federal University of Sao Carlos, Materials Microstructural Engineering Group-GEMM, Sao Carlos, Brazil
Novel engineered routes for advanced Al2O3-MgO refractory castables

2nd Prize

Dr. Robert Sauerbrey

Technology Center, RHI AG, Leoben, Austria
Corrosion behavior of refractory materials in slags under the influence of electric fields

3rd Prize

Dr. Wolfgang Schärfl

TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Ceramic, Glass and Construction Materials, Freiberg, Germany
Thermal shock resistant alumina based disel soot particulate filters (dpf)

Contact

ECREF European Center for Refractories gem. GmbH
Rheinstr. 58
56203 Höhr-Grenzhausen
Germany

Phone:	+49 2624 9433-140
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