Abstract: An electrically heated furnace includes an inner furnace chamber provided with heating elements of stabilized zirconium dioxide, and an outer furnace chamber in which further heating elements that can work at temperatures above 1800.degree. C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere are provided. The outer heating elements are conveniently of a molybdenum silicide type, for instance elements marketed under the designation KANTHAL Super. Those walls that define the inner furnace chamber are made of zirconium dioxide material or some other suitable material that has a low specific thermal conductivity and that is capable of withstanding the high working temperature and the occurrent temperature swings. The outer furnace chamber, which completely surrounds the inner furnace chamber, is separated from the surroundings by conventional walls insulated, e.g., with ceramic fibres and/or high-temperature durable brick.

Abstract: An electrical resistance element with electrode portions comprising a thin resistance wire of a heat resistant material, such as molybdenum disilicide, MoSi.sub.2, which resistance wire has at least one end electrode of aluminium, having a much greater cross-sectional area than that of the resistance wire, wherein the end portion of the resistance wire is fused into the end portion of the respective electrode portion.Also disclosed is a method of connecting an electrode portion to one end of the resistance wire in an electrical resistance element by placing the end portion of the electrode within a surrounding sleeve, heating the sleeve with the electrode end therein to cause the outermost end portion of the electrode end to form a melt, introducing the resistance wire end into the melt and permitting the melt to solidify and finally removing the electrode and resistance wire connected thereto from the sleeve.