Abstract: Disclosed is a method for heat treating nonferrous metal parts. These parts are suspended in a settable ceramic slurry. The combination is formed into a solid mass by setting of a gelling binder contained therein. The set mass is then aged in an enveloping stabilizing or hardening atmosphere in which the volatile constituents of the binder are miscible. The formed mass of ceramic and metal parts is heat treated, the parts being held in suspension by the ceramic highly refractory material. Upon cooling, the differing thermal coefficients result in a disintegration of the ceramic from the heat treated parts.