Graphite has extraordinary properties, viz. high corrosion resistance against liquid metals and slags, good spalling resistance and impact on reduction of porosity and finer pore size distribution in oxides—carbon composite refractories. However, it has poor oxidation resistance which restricts its use in pyrometallurgical operation and gives poor campaign life. Different antioxidants such as Al, Si, Al/Mg, B4C, SiC, etc have been used in commercial production of carbon bearing composite refractories for improvement of their oxidation resistance. Coating of graphite with oxides such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, etc has been the recent trend of R & D work to improve the oxidation resistance of graphite in composite refractories. In the present investigation, graphite powders have been coated with Magnesio-Aluminate Hydrate (MAH). The coated powders were characterized by TGA/DTGA, DTA and calcinations at 1000°C to study their oxidation loss. Liquid resin was also specially treated with MAH. Both MAH treated graphite and resin were used to make MgO-C composites. Present work reveals remarkable improvement of oxidation resistance of both graphite and MgO-C composites when graphite powders were coated with MAH. © 2008 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.