[refractory steel] What is it refracting anyway?

[Ken Blake]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9LKRF45
Propane Torch Weed Burner Kit

"Blow torch are made of refractory steel for durability."

I thought "refractory" was a typo of some sort, but when I googled it, I
found other similar items are made of "refractory" steel also.

https://www.findthisbest.com/brand/854870-quanie
https://www.findthisbest.com/best-weed-torches
"AUSAIL Weed Torch is a high-quality propane torch designed for various
outdoor tasks. Made with ultrahigh strength refractory steel, this torch is
extremely durable."

So what is a "refractory" metal anyway?

https://www.metaltek.com/blog/refractory-metals/
"Refractory metals are a group of metallic elements that are highly
resistant to heat and wear. It is generally accepted that tungsten,
molybdenum, niobium, tantalum and rhenium best fit most definitions of
refractory metals."

But why are they called "refractory"? What are they refracting?
Heat perhaps?

[Mike Spencer]

Post by Ken Blake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9LKRF45
Propane Torch Weed Burner Kit
"Blow torch are made of refractory steel for durability."
I thought "refractory" was a typo of some sort, but when I googled it, I
found other similar items are made of "refractory" steel also.
[snip]
But why are they called "refractory"? What are they refracting?
Heat perhaps?

"Refractory" means resistant to management or, in the case of
inanimate objects/substances, resistant to any processes that might
change them.

Despite being a metal worker, I've seen the term more often used
referring to refractory brick, any of several types of ceramic
bricks/blocks that withstand high temperatures for extended periods of
time without changing. Used to build or line ceramic kilns, gas
forges, foundry furnaces etc.

[Ken Blake]

Post by Mike Spencer
"Refractory" means resistant to management or, in the case of
inanimate objects/substances, resistant to any processes that might
change them.

Thanks for pointing this in the right direction as I thought refractory
meant something like light refraction (or heat refraction) which, to me,
was more like a "bending" or "bouncing" of the heat away from the metal.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refraction
1: deflection from a straight path undergone by a light ray or energy wave
in passing obliquely from one medium (such as air) into another (such as
glass) in which its velocity is different

2: the change in the apparent position of a celestial body due to bending
of the light rays emanating from it as they pass through the atmosphere
also : the correction to be applied to the apparent position of a body
because of this bending

3: the action of distorting an image by viewing through a medium
also : an instance of this

But in this case, refractory doesn't mean refraction (refractionary?).

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refractory
1: resisting control or authority : STUBBORN, UNMANAGEABLE
2a: resistant to treatment or cure, a refractory lesion
2b: unresponsive to stimulus
2c: IMMUNE, INSUSCEPTIBLE
after recovery they were refractory to infection
3: difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out,
especially : capable of enduring high temperature

Etymology:
Refractory is from the Latin word refractarius. During the 17th century, it
was sometimes spelled as refractary, but that spelling, though more in
keeping with its Latin parent, had fallen out of use by the century's end.
Refractarius, like refractory, is the result of a slight variation in
spelling. It stems from the Latin verb refragari, meaning "to oppose."

[Kerr-Mudd, John]

On Sat, 2 Nov 2024 03:50:30 -0600

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Mike Spencer
"Refractory" means resistant to management or, in the case of
inanimate objects/substances, resistant to any processes that might
change them.

Thanks for pointing this in the right direction as I thought refractory
meant something like light refraction (or heat refraction) which, to me,
was more like a "bending" or "bouncing" of the heat away from the metal.

[]

Post by Ken Blake
Refractory is from the Latin word refractarius. During the 17th century, it
was sometimes spelled as refractary, but that spelling, though more in
keeping with its Latin parent, had fallen out of use by the century's end.
Refractarius, like refractory, is the result of a slight variation in
spelling. It stems from the Latin verb refragari, meaning "to oppose."

When I was a student, we didn't eat in the canteen, oh no, we ate in a
refectory.

[jerryfriedman]

On Sat, 2 Nov 2024 11:03:13 +0000, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:

[refractory]

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
When I was a student, we didn't eat in the canteen, oh no, we ate in a
refectory.

The most pretentious one I've heard in the U.S. is
"cafetorium".

ObBrowning:

When he finishes refection,
Knife and fork he never lays
Cross-wise, to my recollection,
As do I, in Jesu's praise.
I the Trinity illustrate,
Drinking watered orange pulp--
In three sips the Arian frustrate;
While he drains his at one gulp!

--
Jerry Friedman

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
On Sat, 2 Nov 2024 03:50:30 -0600

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Mike Spencer
"Refractory" means resistant to management or, in the case of
inanimate objects/substances, resistant to any processes that might
change them.

Thanks for pointing this in the right direction as I thought refractory
meant something like light refraction (or heat refraction) which, to me,
was more like a "bending" or "bouncing" of the heat away from the metal.

[]

Post by Ken Blake
Refractory is from the Latin word refractarius. During the 17th century, it
was sometimes spelled as refractary, but that spelling, though more in
keeping with its Latin parent, had fallen out of use by the century's end.
Refractarius, like refractory, is the result of a slight variation in
spelling. It stems from the Latin verb refragari, meaning "to oppose."

When I was a student, we didn't eat in the canteen, oh no, we ate in a
refectory.

Trying to suggest some kind of lineage from the scriptorium and studious
monks.

It was surprising how they always managed to look exactly like a canteen.

[Bertel Lund Hansen]

Post by Ken Blake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9LKRF45
Propane Torch Weed Burner Kit
"Blow torch are made of refractory steel for durability."
I thought "refractory" was a typo of some sort, but when I googled it, I
found other similar items are made of "refractory" steel also.

I had to lookup "refractory" and "refractory steel". Wkipedia (en) has
an explanation. In it appears the metal "tungsten" which I find is a
funny word in English because it is pure Danish. "Tung" means "heavy"
and "sten" means "stone".

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen

Post by Ken Blake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9LKRF45
Propane Torch Weed Burner Kit
"Blow torch are made of refractory steel for durability."
I thought "refractory" was a typo of some sort, but when I googled it, I
found other similar items are made of "refractory" steel also.

I had to lookup "refractory" and "refractory steel". Wkipedia (en) has
an explanation. In it appears the metal "tungsten" which I find is a
funny word in English because it is pure Danish.

English is bursting with words that are pure something-else.

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen
"Tung" means "heavy"
and "sten" means "stone".

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by Ken Blake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9LKRF45
Propane Torch Weed Burner Kit
"Blow torch are made of refractory steel for durability."
I thought "refractory" was a typo of some sort, but when I googled it, I
found other similar items are made of "refractory" steel also.
https://www.findthisbest.com/brand/854870-quanie
https://www.findthisbest.com/best-weed-torches
"AUSAIL Weed Torch is a high-quality propane torch designed for various
outdoor tasks. Made with ultrahigh strength refractory steel, this torch is
extremely durable."
So what is a "refractory" metal anyway?
https://www.metaltek.com/blog/refractory-metals/
"Refractory metals are a group of metallic elements that are highly
resistant to heat and wear. It is generally accepted that tungsten,
molybdenum, niobium, tantalum and rhenium best fit most definitions of
refractory metals."
But why are they called "refractory"? What are they refracting?
Heat perhaps?

From Latin, refractarius, meaning stubborn, obstinate.
It is just that they refuse to melt or deform,

Jan