Within this paper it is investigated the effect of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) on the alumina - silica - zirconia composites, with in situ stabilization of zirconia with magnesium oxide and calcium oxide, respectively. The phase compositions, microstructure - texture and mechanical strengths were examined for the sintered refractories, at a temperature of 1550 degreesC (maintained for 2 hours at the maximum sintering temperature), The additions of chromium oxide determined significant changes, such as the increase of the porosity and water absorbtion for the chromitic refractories, without affecting the mechanical strength - excepting the refractories stabilized with CaO and Cr2O3 content of 40% (considerable higher strength than of the other investigated refractories), Explanations are given for the behavior of the refractories, mainly in correlation with the phase with the phase composition.
