The experimental work investigates the behavior of commercial-grade aluminosilicate and basic refractories in contact with stainless steels at 1630°C in an argon atmosphere. For the aluminosilicate refractories, Mn proves to be the most deleterious to these refractories. For the basic refractories, silicon is the most destructive element attacking the magnesioferrite phase to produce a complex silicate of magnesium, manganese, and calcium. The presence of metal droplets in the hot face of every steel/refractory system is explained on the basis of disproportionation and reaction of lower oxides, especially CrO. [