Abstract: A structural member for use in extremely high temperature environments that has substantially flat exterior for resting on a flat surface. The substantially flat exterior of the structural member has a low angle chamfer that is preferably less than 45 degrees and that rises far enough above the flat surface so that when the edge is rolled using conventional processing methods, the resulting high point does not extend a distance far enough to contact with the surface.

Abstract: A structural member for use in high temperature environments is disclosed. The structural member has a core encased within a shell material. The core material is formed of a strong material having a melting point well above that of the shell material. The disclosed structural member is particularly useful when forming a boat for heating silicon and the like to temperatures between 900 degrees Celsius and 1500 degrees Celsius. In a preferred embodiment the core material is graphite and the shell is fused silica. Even more preferably, the fused silica pneumatically encases the graphite to thereby prevent inadvertent contamination during use of the structural member. A related method for forming the structural member is also disclosed.