Over recent years, owing to the need to increase productivity, it has been necessary among other things to increase the hot metal temperature in the blast furnace hearth. As a result, refractory lining wear becomes more intense. While publications present a host of comparative tests for hearth refractories and their performance, hardly any information is available in such publications regarding reaction mechanisms and further deterioration of these materials. Based upon comparative laboratory test results using two carbon materials of different concepts, the various reaction mechanisms and enhanced refractory lining deterioration for the blast furnace hearth have been identified. From an understanding of these wear mechanisms acting upon the hearth lining, it has been decided to introduce some practical operating measures, with a view to extending the blast furnace campaign.