Abstract: The support plate for transporting products during thermal treatment at firing temperatures is a nonporous keatite glass ceramic supporting member without a glassy surface layer. It has a nubby structure on an underside thereof and preferably C-shaped rounded edges. A method of making the keatite glass ceramic supporting member is described.

Abstract: Commercially obtained combustion aids typically consist of cordierite, fused silica or Si/SiC, which cannot meet the high thermal and also mechanical requirements in the necessary context, or only in a highly limited manner. The invention relates to a glass-ceramic combustion aid in the form of a non-porous keatite glass ceramic without a vitreous surface layer. Said combustion aid has high thermal stability and resistance to thermal shocks, practically no mechanical interaction, especially no porosity and adhesive effects, with the product to be baked, and can also be obtained in large formats having small thicknesses, as a mechanically stable bearing plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stove, with a smooth-top cooktop, for cooking food, the stove comprising: a stove body; a smooth-top cooktop to cook food thereon; and at least one heat source disposed adjacent to a cooking surface of said cooktop. The cooktop comprises glass ceramic with an upper layer and an inner layer, with the upper layer comprising a different glass ceramic material than the inner layer. The upper layer is configured to minimize surface defects such as fissures, cracks, pits, and pores. The inner layer is configured to provide resistance to impact to the upper layer from cooking utensils being dropped onto the upper layer of the smooth-top cooktop, and at least the inner layer of the glass ceramic being configured to obscure visibility of the at least one heat source, through the upper layer of the glass ceramic.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stove, with a smooth-top cooktop, for cooking food, the stove comprising: a stove body; a smooth-top cooktop to cook food thereon; and at least one heat source disposed adjacent to a cooking surface of said cooktop. The cooktop comprises glass ceramic with an upper layer and an inner layer, with the upper layer comprising a different glass ceramic material than the inner layer. The upper layer is configured to minimize surface defects such as fissures, cracks, pits, and pores. The inner layer is configured to provide resistance to impact to the upper layer from cooking utensils being dropped onto the upper layer of the smooth-top cooktop, and at least the inner layer of the glass ceramic being configured to obscure visibility of the at least one heat source, through the upper layer of the glass ceramic.