A refractory article including a body having central opening extending through at least a portion of the body, the central opening having a receiving surface having a convex curvature. In an embodiment, the body can include a coupling protrusion extending from a portion of an upper surface of the body and a coupling depression on a portion of a bottom surface of the body.

A sample holder for annealing apparatus and electrically assisted annealing apparatus using the same are provided. The sample holder includes a heat conductive shell, high thermal conductive and electrical insulation blocks, first and second electrodes. The heat conductive shell includes a base frame and a top cover. The high thermal conductive and electrical insulation blocks are adjacent to the base frame and the top cover, respectively, and a sample pallet is sandwiched therebetween. Length and width of the sample pallet is smaller than that of the high thermal conductive and electrical insulation blocks. The first and the second electrodes are fixed to two sides of the sample pallet, and are connected to electrifying wire respectively. Thickness of the first and the second electrodes is smaller than that of the sample pallet, while the width of the first and the second electrodes is longer than that of the sample pallet.

Setter plates are fabricated from Li-stuffed garnet materials having the same, or substantially similar, compositions as a garnet Li-stuffed solid electrolyte. The Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, reduce the evaporation of Li during a sintering treatment step and/or reduce the loss of Li caused by diffusion out of the sintering electrolyte. Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, maintain compositional control over the solid electrolyte during sintering when, upon heating, lithium is prone to diffuse out of the solid electrolyte.

Embodiments include a heating device for heating a workpiece, including a furnace defining a closed space insulated from an exterior and surrounded by a heat insulator, a heater disposed in the furnace to heat a workpiece, a bar-shaped support element for supporting a workpiece in the furnace, and bases holding longitudinal ends of the support element for mounting the support element on a wall of the furnace, the support element being configured to increase the bending strength against sagging between its longitudinal ends.

Setter plates are fabricated from Li-stuffed garnet materials having the same, or substantially similar, compositions as a garnet Li-stuffed solid electrolyte. The Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, reduce the evaporation of Li during a sintering treatment step and/or reduce the loss of Li caused by diffusion out of the sintering electrolyte. Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, maintain compositional control over the solid electrolyte during sintering when, upon heating, lithium is prone to diffuse out of the solid electrolyte.

A grid-type workpiece carrier includes parallel strip-type first grid elements having recesses, and strip-type second grid elements arranged transverse to the first grid elements and having recesses, wherein the recesses of the first and second grid elements engage in one another in such a way that the crossing first and second grid elements form a grid, wherein the first grid elements are mechanically securely fixed to second grid elements that are arranged in an edge region on opposing sides of the grid.

In a thermal or thermochemical treatment, metal workpieces together with a metal guide are arranged on a batch carrier. The present invention relates to a device for flow guidance for metallic pieces during such thermal or thermochemical treatment and quenching, as well as methods using the same. The fluid guide particularly ensures a uniform cooling of an inner and/or outer lateral surface of the workpieces during the quenching process.

A reinforced refractory container having a cast refractory container which includes a sidewall defining an interior volume, the sidewall having inner and outer surfaces, the container cast from a castable refractory composition, and a wound, continuous fiber tensile reinforcement structure integrated with the container sidewall. A method of fabricating the reinforced refractory container is also provided.

In various embodiments, apparatuses for receiving and supporting one or more components during processing thereof at process temperatures greater than approximately 1000 C. feature refractory metal shelves separated by refractory metal support posts.

In some examples, a multilevel retort assembly. The assembly includes a base defining a base perimeter; and a plurality of shells. Each shell has a diffuser plate support and a perimeter with a substantially similar shape as the base perimeter. The plurality of shells are stacked on each other, mechanically supported by the base, and surround an inner retort volume. The at least one shell of the plurality of shells defines a removable window. The assembly also includes a plurality of diffuser plates, each diffuser plate supported by a corresponding diffuser plate support of the plurality of diffuser plate supports.