MAGMA sells many kinds of different shapes and sizes of kiln furniture items such as Cordierite Mullite or SiSiC beams or NSIC parts into tableware and sanitary ware applications, and selecting exactly the right option for your process can be quite challenging. Performance of identical products can vary significantly between ostensibly similar processes, and even the conditions in different areas of the same kiln can vary sufficiently that kiln furniture can last longer at the bottom than the top of a kiln car, for example. The extreme stresses placed on kiln furniture in normal use means that it’s impossible to build-in complete resistance to every failure mode, and so choosing the most suitable product usually involves the best compromise of the most desirable properties:
• Resistance to bending
• Resistance to thermal-shock
• Strength
• Dimensional accuracy
• Cost
We have a range of materials and processes that are tailored to suit different requirements. However, for any product it is necessary to establish:
• Type of kiln or furnace
• Maximum temperature of the kiln
• Cycle time (heating, dwell & cooling)
• Atmosphere (oxidising, reducing, glaze volatiles, etc.)
• Weight and distribution of products in the kiln
• Handling methods, stability of the load, etc.
With this information, MAGMA can offer you the best advice about the most appropriate products for your application. It’s worth bearing in mind that the type of system you’ve been using for several years was probably the best available several years ago, and continuous improvement in design and materials means that a different method might be better for you now.
BATTS – From small, thin tiles up to large slabs several hundreds of millimetres long, batts are the main component in primary KF systems, and are used mainly as shelves to support products during firing. Batts are also often used as covers / guards, and as tiles in kiln lining systems.
Batts fall into three distinct types:
Plain Batts – These are usually basic, pressed shapes, occasionally incorporating surface features or small holes for the location of other components in an assembly (eg. Props). The simple design of a plain batt means it is usually least-prone to failure.
Extruded Batts – These are designed to reduce thermal-mass while maintaining a good strength: weight ratio. They are commonly used for sanitaryware kiln cars. It’s usually recommended that extruded batts are supported by Silicon Carbide beams rather than props at the corner.
Perforated Batts – Sometimes referred to as Multihole batts, these are pressed or cast with several holes to reduce weight or allow air circulation through the batt. Depending on the number and size of holes, these can be considerably weaker than other batts, so they’re not usually recommended where strength is a requirement.
PROPS – Props are used to support batts in kiln car structures. They are either pressed or extruded, varying in size and shape according to the required strength and stability, and can incorporate features such as shelves to accommodate variable-height placing systems.
FITTINGS – Including Collars, Caps and Splicers, fittings are intermediate pieces that are sometimes used to connect batts, props and beams.
BEAMS – Typically made in Silicon Carbide material, Beams are used in conjunction with props and fittings to provide the best possible support for large batts carrying heavy loads.
KILN CAR BASE SYSTEMS – MAGMA offer two types of kiln car base: Extruded / cast perimeter blocks, which are extremely robust, and Dry-Lock Bricks, which are a harder-wearing alternative to the conventional Lightweight Insulating Firebrick.
ROOF-HANGER SYSTEMS – These use a combination of specially-designed cranks and plain batts to form kiln ceilings or to enclose ceramic fibre linings in intermittent kilns.
