Behaviro of ZrO2-C mateial used for submerged entry nozzle in thin slab casting was investigated. De-gradation of the material has been found to result from breakup of zirconia aggregate refered to as "destabilization" Destabilization is almost completed during preheating procedure and shows an increasing tendency as the purity of zirconia aggregate decreases and as the content of metallic Si used in ZrO2-C aggregate during preheating. Such concentrated components make grain boundary wider but do not cause any additional destabilization of zirconiaf zirconia