A glass furnace including an additive-containing product including an additive selected from: phosphorus compounds other than glasses and vitroceramics, tungsten compounds other than glasses and vitroceramics, molybdenum compounds other than glasses and vitroceramics, iron in the form of metal, aluminum in the form of metal, silicon in the form of metal, and their mixtures, silicon carbide, boron carbide, silicon nitride, boron nitride, glasses including elemental phosphorus and/or iron and/or tungsten and/or molybdenum, vitroceramics including elemental phosphorus and/or iron and/or tungsten and/or molybdenum, and their mixtures, and having the following chemical analysis, exclusively of the additive, as a percentage by weight on the basis of the oxides: Cr.sub.2O.sub.32%, and Cr.sub.2O.sub.3+Al.sub.2O.sub.3+CaO+ZrO.sub.2+MgO+Fe.sub.2O.sub.3+SiO.sub.2+TiO.sub.290%, and Cr.sub.2O.sub.3+Al.sub.2O.sub.3+MgO60%, the content by weight of additive being in the range 0.01% to 6%.

Processes of forming or repairing a structure for use in high temperature applications may include intermixing a sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) additive with a refractory material; and applying the refractory material to a structure surface.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.

Composites made of a cross-linked acrylic polymer and an inorganic aggregate and/or mineral, with the cross-linked acrylic polymer being present at a concentration of 5% to 17%, by weight, are disclosed. Processes of preparing the composites are also disclosed.

Composites made of a cross-linked acrylic polymer and an inorganic aggregate and/or mineral, with the cross-linked acrylic polymer being present at a concentration of 5% to 17%, by weight, are disclosed. Processes of preparing the composites are also disclosed.

An uncalcined geopolymer-based refractory material is provided, comprising a matrix of a geopolymer obtainable by polymerization of a mixture consisting of mineral powder, fly ash, and metakaolin; and SiC whiskers embedded in the geopolymer matrix. The material has excellent mechanical properties and high resistance to high temperatures and exhibits a ductile fracture mechanism instead of a brittle fracture mechanism.

A honeycomb structure including a plurality of porous honeycomb block bodies bound via joining material layers A. Each of the porous honeycomb block bodies includes a plurality of porous honeycomb segments bound via joining material layers B, each of the porous honeycomb segment includes: partition walls that defines a plurality of cells to form flow paths for a fluid, each of cells extending from an inflow end face that is an end face on a fluid inflow side to an outflow end face that is an end face on a fluid outflow side; and an outer peripheral wall located at the outermost periphery. At least a part of the joining material layers A has higher toughness than that of the joining material layers B.

A honeycomb structure including a plurality of porous honeycomb block bodies bound via joining material layers A. Each of the porous honeycomb block bodies includes a plurality of porous honeycomb segments bound via joining material layers B, each of the porous honeycomb segment includes: partition walls that defines a plurality of cells to form flow paths for a fluid, each of cells extending from an inflow end face that is an end face on a fluid inflow side to an outflow end face that is an end face on a fluid outflow side; and an outer peripheral wall located at the outermost periphery. At least a part of the joining material layers A has higher toughness than that of the joining material layers B.

A honeycomb structure includes a plurality of prismatic columnar shaped honeycomb segments; a bonding layer bonding side faces of the honeycomb segments; and a circumferential wall disposed to surround a honeycomb segment bonded body having the honeycomb segments arranged in a grid pattern and bonded with the bonding layer, wherein the honeycomb segments has a porous partition wall disposed to surround a plurality of cells, the cells in other than outermost circumference have a hexagonal shape in a section orthogonal to the cell extending direction, the honeycomb segments include first and second honeycomb segment, the second honeycomb segment is different from the first in at least one of: a shape in the section; a size; and an arrangement direction of the cells and an extended line of one diagonal line imaginarily depicted in the cells in the first honeycomb segment and that in the second are configured to be orthogonal.