The present invention relates to refractories with a composition gradient for lining the interior surface of combustion chambers. The invention envisages the use of refractories characterized by the presence of a number of layers with a different chemical composition to form a gradient along the cross section of the material. The presence of the composition gradient serves to combine the corrosion resistance of the surface layer, facing towards the inside of the combustion chamber, with the shock resistance of the bulk material.

A refractory insert is provided, including a main body part having a first surface defining a first sidewall, an opposed second surface defining a second sidewall, and an outer peripheral surface separating the first and second surfaces, and a mechanical mating member provided on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof. The mechanical mating member includes a retention mechanism for controlling and retaining a position of a corresponding mating member in connection therewith.

A heat-insulating protective member for skid posts contains a needled blanket of inorganic fibers. At least some of the needled blanket has, disposed therein, an impregnation part where an oxide-precursor-containing liquid is adherent in an undried state. The impregnation part has a water content of 50-400 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fibers of the impregnation part. The water content of the heat-insulating protective member is 50-400 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fibers of the heat-insulating protective member. The oxide-precursor-containing liquid contains ingredients that, upon burning, yield a composition containing Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and CaO. The oxide-precursor-containing liquid is adherent in an amount of 2-50 parts by mass in terms of oxide amount per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fibers of the impregnation part. A molar ratio of Al/Ca, in the whole impregnation part is 10-330.

A system and method for utilizing corner-cube reflector technology for irradiation control in direct radiant heating systems is described. The system and method has application in many types of direct irradiation heating systems and is applicable to both narrowband or broadband directed irradiation heating systems. The purpose and result of the implementation is to improve the overall system efficiency through the redirection of photons back to a targeted item which is being heated or treated with the irradiation energy.

A high temperature vacuum furnace including a prefabricated tongue-and-groove, low-mass insulation ring assembly hot zone, resulting in decreased energy costs and increased energy efficiency, faster heating and cooling cycles, and expedited maintenance capability resulting in lower maintenance costs. Decreased time of a workpiece in the furnace improves production turnaround and lowers energy costs for each heat treating cycle. Furnace manufacturing is also easier and less expensive compared to prior art vacuum furnaces. A bottom support structure replaces the prior art metal support ring resulting in an approximately 80-85% weight saving in the furnace hot zone. This reduces the time and energy required to heat and cool the furnace components and workpiece.

A heater is provided to heat a metallic workpiece as a heating treatment target. In a heat treatment chamber, the heater and the workpiece are disposed. A shielding member is disposed between the heater and the workpiece inside the heat treatment chamber, and provided to be capable of shielding radiation of radiation heat from the heater to the workpiece.

A molten refractory product having the following average chemical composition, in wt % on the basis of oxides and for a total of 100%: Al.sub.2O.sub.3: balance to 100%; Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 0.6%-5.0% and/or TiO.sub.2: 1.5%-10.0%; Fe.sub.2O.sub.3+TiO.sub.210.0%; Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O: 1.0%-8.0%; SiO.sub.2: 0.2%-2.0%; CaO+BaO+SrO: 0.5%; Other oxide species: 1.5%. Also, a glass-melting furnace and the use of the refractory product in the glass-melting furnace.

Mounting hardware for mounting an insulation module on a furnace wall. The hardware comprises a mounting bracket embedded within the module. The bracket has a plurality of flexible tabs, each tab having a fixed end and a free end. The free ends of the tabs are arranged about a central point and are movable (flexible) relative to the fixed ends. A mounting stud is provided having a fixed end attachable to an inner surface of a furnace wall and a free end. The stud extends from the inner surface, and the stud has an annular groove adjacent the fixed end. The stud is dimensioned to extend through the mounting bracket between the free ends of the tabs and to cause the tabs to flex as the bracket moves along the stud from the free end towards the fixed end, wherein the tabs snap and lock into the annular groove when the bracket reaches the annular groove.

A furnace system includes a heating chamber, a retort assembly, and a waveguide. The heating chamber includes a shell encompassing an insulation layer and a working volume, where the working volume is configured to receive at least one part for heat treatment. The retort assembly is supported within the insulation layer and includes an inner retort surface facing the working volume. The inner retort surface is formed of at least one carbon compound reflective of microwave radiation, and the retort assembly defines a retort aperture. The waveguide is configured to direct microwave radiation from a microwave source to the retort aperture.

A thermal insulation structure is disposed at an exterior of a chamber of a heating device. The thermal insulation structure includes a heat conduction layer, a heat storage layer and a reflection layer. The heat conduction layer is adapted to conduct heat from the chamber to the heat storage layer. The heat storage layer is adapted to store heat. The reflection layer is adapted to reflect radiation heat back to the chamber, whereby a temperature of the chamber could be kept at a constant so as to reduce heat dissipation of the chamber.