Refractory dry-vibratable mixes, which consist of a mineral filling material and an organic or anorganic binder system, are widely used for linings in industrial aggregates, where a very high temperature resistance is required (e.g. steel industry). During lining, all compounds are mixed and hardening is chemically or thermally initiated. The time span required for hardening is of special relevance for the application of refractory dry-vibratable mixes. It should be long enough for adequate processability, but simultaneously avoid too long downtimes. Prediction or regulation of the hardening time, necessary for an ideal processing, is currently limited. One the one hand, this is a result of the lack of an appropriate method for time-dependent determination of the harding process. On the other hand, the mechanisms responsible for this very complex process have not yet been investigated in detail and the effect of influencing factors, like the temperature or the composition of the refractory dry-vibratable mixes, are poorly documented. To make a contribution to the understanding of the hardening mechanism of refractory dry-vibratable mixes, it was the aim of the present work, to develop an appropriate test method for the time-dependent investigation of this process. This was realized by means of the dynamic-mechanical analysis. In addition, the hardening mechanism was described for a refractory dry-vibratable mix with a binder system, which consists of a waterglass and a phosphate hardener (AlPO4 und BPO4), using supplement gravimetric investigations and determining solubility behavior of the phosphates. By means of X-ray diffraction analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the impact of the hardening mechanism on the crystal and amorphous structure was studied. It could be shown, that according to the two phosphates, the hardening leads to different network structures in respect of their link denseness. These structure characteristics correlate with the speed of the hardening reactions. In addition, the impact on selected properties (thermal linear deformation, temperature-dependent phase development and phase transition) could be deducted.