Abstract: An insulating block for lining an interior surface of a furnace wall. The block is comprised of at least two insulating module sections. Each module section is formed from two or more layers of a ceramic (material) blanket. The layers of the ceramic blanket are held together by one or more plastic fasteners, each plastic fastener comprised of an elongated fiber portion that is dimensioned to extend at least partially through at least two of the layers and enlarged end sections dimensioned to engage the layers. The layers of the blanket are held together side-by-side by the plastic fasteners. A support member has at least one anchor rod (tube) affixed thereto. The insulating module sections are mounted on the anchor rod.

Abstract: An impact pad for use on the bottom of a vessel into which molten metal is poured for suppressing turbulence of the molten metal. The impact pad includes a central formation having a center and an outer circular periphery and diminishing in height form the center to the outer circular periphery and an outer annular formation surrounding the central formation and having an outer peripheral surface and an inner edge at the outer circular periphery of the central portion and an upper surface flaring outwardly from the inner edge. The outer annular formation has a plurality of channels formed therein extending radially outward from the inner edge.

Abstract: An impact pad for use in a ladle for molten metal comprising a body of refractory material having a lower portion shaped to fit in a ladle and a tapered upper portion having corrugations at the top, the lower portion being grooved around its periphery and having refractory bricks of contrasting color with respect to the refractory material of the body embedded in the body, adapted to be exposed on wearing away of the body.

Abstract: An improved ceramic fiber module for installation a high temperature furnace. The module is made from ceramic fiber mats having hot and cold faces. The module includes a tine which impales each of the mats in a plane generally parallel to the hot and cold faces. The tine receives a threaded stud through its central opening. The module is welded to the interior wall of the furnace. The tine is thereafter forced downwardly toward the wall of the furnace to pull the module against the interior wall of the furnace thereby enveloping the stud within the module and compressing the mats of the module against the interior wall.

Abstract: Improved gunnable plastic refractory compositions consist of a mass of friable clusters of granular material which has a moisture content of from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the total composition and contains from about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight (added), preferably 0.1% to 0.3%, of a hydrocolloid selected from the class consisting of a polysaccharide ether and xanthan gum and from about 0.05% to about 1.0% by weight (added), preferably 0.15% to about 0.50%, carbon.

Abstract: Low silica ceramic fiber compositions comprising from 46-49% alumina, 23-25% silica and 27-29% zirconia.

Abstract: A coking process in which tar impregnated refractory products are heated in a muffle within a furnace to a temperature sufficient to cause emission or release of the volatile constituents in the tars and pitches used for impregnation, whether by decomposition or distillation, for a time which is sufficient to remove substantially all of such constituents from the products, characterized by heating the refractory products in a muffle within the furnace while maintaining a positive pressure within the muffle during the emission of the volatile constituents, and thereafter cooling the refractories in a substantially nonoxidizing atmosphere. After the temperature of the refractory products is low enough to avoid any thermal shocking of the brick the brick are removed from the furnace and the muffle.

Abstract: A gunnable plastic refractory is made by adding a hydrocolloid, for example a polysaccharide ether such as methylcellulose, to the refractory composition and adjusting the moisture content to be from about 4% to about 10%. The workability index of the refractory mix is from about 8% to about 30%. The refractory can be gunned without stoppages caused by clogging of hoses and the rebound rate is low.

Abstract: A moldable refractory composition comprising a ceramic alumina-silica fiber, a colloidal silica, an organic adhesive, wollastonite, and a liquid vehicle such as water forms a molten aluminum resistant refractory when dried.

Abstract: A center mount module of ceramic fibers having internal hardware adapted to engage a prior art anchor stud and guide the module into place on the internal wall of a furnace. The module may be a plurality of edge stacked mats or loop folded mats; the edge grain forms both the hot and the cold face of the installed module in the former case whereas, in the latter, either the loops or the edge grain may form the cold face but a looped cold face is preferred. The mats are joined together by an elongate tine having a central hole therein and lying in a plane between and substantially parallel to the hot and cold faces of the module. A notched tube disposed between adjacent mats straddles the tine in co-axial relationship with the central hole of the tine.

Abstract: A gunnable plastic refractory is made by adding a polysaccharide ether such as methylcellulose to the refractory composition and adjusting the moisture content to be from about 4% to about 10%. The workability index of the refractory mix is from about 8% to about 30%. The refractory is gunned without stoppages caused by clogging of hoses and the rebound rate is low.