Foundry technology requires materials which are, on the one hand, temperature-stable, i.e. which can withstand high temperatures and rapid temperature change. On the other hand, these materials may not react or interact with the melt. Such foundry applications require high-quality materials for moulds and mould elements, but also equipment components for machines and plants.

Due to their outstanding thermal properties, the preferred materials are silicon nitride or aluminium titanate. Depending on the casting material and casting process, these materials can display their specific strengths.

Ceramic crucibles are used for the melting of the material. SSN thermocouple thimbles are used to monitor the temperature of the melt. The preparation and de-gassing of the melt requires impellers, its transport requires riser pipes and dosing pipes. Risers are used in sand casting. Aluminium oxide, frequently as a porous variant, is used for the insulation and lining of furnaces. Heating pipes are used to heat the melt.

This list, which is certainly not definitive, indicates the importance of ceramic materials to this important production technology.