Abstract: A spacer member in a furnace including an aluminum tube containing a ceramic material. The ceramic material provides high compressive strength and the composite product resists high temperature creep.

Abstract: A spacer member for supporting a metallic alloy product during heat treatment comprising a ceramic core and a tubular housing is disclosed. The tubular housing, which encloses the ceramic core, comprises a bore, a wall portion, and two end portions. In order to resist deformation during usage, the tubular housing is made from high temperature steel, a high temperature steel alloy, or cold rolled steel. The wall portion has at least two substantially flat surfaces having corner edges that have a radius of at least ? inch and ends that are tapered at least ¼ inch. In addition, the flat surfaces also have a coating that reduces the sticking of a metallic alloy product. The end portions each have at least one aperture to allow the inside to adjust itself to ambient atmospheric pressure. A method of making a spacer member is also disclosed.