Refractory (disambiguation)

Look up refractory in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A refractory is a heat-resistant material, such as:

• Refractory ceramic, a ceramic that is resistant to heat
• Refractory metals, metals that are resistant to heat and wear
• Refraction (metallurgy), the resistance of metals to heat

The term refractory may also refer to:

• Refractory (astronomy), any material, which condenses at high temperature
• Refractory clergymen, Roman Catholic priests and bishops in France who refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the state during the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
• Refractory disease, one not responsive to common modes of treatment
• Refractory (mineral processing), metallic minerals that are difficult to liberate in traditional processes (i.e. refractory gold ores).
• Refractory period, a period immediately following a stimulus during which further stimulation has no effect
  • Refractory period (physiology), the time after an action potential during which a membrane can not depolarize
  • Refractory period (sex), a period after orgasm during which it is impossible to achieve another orgasm
  • Psychological refractory period, the delay in response to the second of two closely spaced psychological stimuli
  • Postictal state, the period following a series of epileptic seizures during which seizures cannot be induced