A method of handling liquid non-ferrous metals after smelting. The liquid metal is in contact with a solid refractory material, and in the absence of electrical currents passing through the liquid-metal-contacting surfaces. The solid material is Ti.sub.3SiC.sub.2. The liquid non-ferrous material can be aluminum or an aluminum alloy, magnesium or a magnesium alloy, or other non-ferrous materials as to which the Ti.sub.3SiC.sub.2 material is stable.