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 31st 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.
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.
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
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)