Abstract: A refractory material used in refractory furnace liners, combustion chambers, baffles and artificial fire logs includes alumina silicate; an additive comprising at least one of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, boron nitride and silicon carbo-nitride; and a binder. The refractory material is light weight, has a high noise reduction capacity, is fire resistant and has a reduced silica content. In a most preferred embodiment, the additive makes up 50.0% to 55.0% of the material by weight, the binder makes up 4.5% to 5.0% of the material by weight and the linear shrinkage of the material is no greater than 3.5% at 2600° F. A preferred binder is colloidal silica although many others are suitable. Preferably, the material is free of cellulose fiber and sodium silicate.

Abstract: A burner pad for use in a gas burner in a gas fireplace includes a plurality of noncombustible fibers held together by fillers and binders to form a noncombustible body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The body has a porosity that allows gas to pass therethrough in a substantially random manner. The body is also dimensionally stable. The burner pad may be used to form a gas burner having a burner pan having an open top with the porous burner pad enclosing the burner pan by covering said open top of said burner pan to define a gas distribution chamber between said pad and said burner pan. Gas is supplied to the gas distribution chamber and allowed to randomly seep through the pad where it may be ignited to form a low-profile, rolling flame that simulates the appearance of glowing embers in a wood-fueled fire.