There is provided a process, and the product resulting therefrom, for coating a refractory block or substrate with a small particle size form of at least one platinum group metal whereby a fused layer of such metal is formed on the refractory and is directly and strongly adhered on a surface thereof. This technique can likewise be employed in such a manner that the layer is a bonding agent for purposes of bonding a separate sheet of a platinum group metal to the refractory which structure can then be employed as a glass contacting member in apparatus for handling molten glass.