Harald Harmuth studied ceramics at Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Austria. After his graduation he spent 16 years in refractories industry and cement industry. There he was engaged in research work concerning products and processes. During this time he earned his PhD and post-doctoral lecture qualification. In 1997 he was appointed to the Chair of Ceramics at Montanuniversitaet Leoben. One focus of his research interest is refractory wear. This includes discontinuous and continuous wear phenomena. Investigations comprise thermomechanical and fracture mechanical material characterisation and simulation, thermochemical simulations and corrosion studies.