Kiln furniture is a fixture furnace which serves to support the combustion process of ceramic objects. Kiln furniture is generally made of refractory material which is resistant to the effects of spalling that mechanical loading, hot and fused to withstand repeated usage. Material kiln furniture can consist of material Samot, mullite, cerdienite, mulcorite (mullite cordierite), high aluminum, aluminum porcelain, and the type of silicon carbide.
The types of kiln furniture that has the characteristics of different usage, such as:
- The maximum temperature of use,
- spalling resistance or the ability to carry weight in hot conditions, high temperatures,
- resistance to combustion reaction reduction / oxidation,
- durability of use, and
- porosity body kiln furniture.
Types and Functions Kiln Furniture
a. Plat / shelves
Serves as the base plate ceramic objects were burnt and also to make the sap in the furnace. Bermacammacam plate shapes such as circles, half circles, hexagons, and rectangular with a variety of sizes. For certain purposes such as when used for burning glaze, the plate should be coated with kiln wash, the protective layer so that the plate was not exposed to melt the glaze directly when melted, so that ceramic objects can be more easily retrieved and attached to the plate and plate used is not fast broken. Kiln wash is made from a mixture koalin and quartz with a ratio of 1: 1
Figure 23. Plate
b. Poles / posts / props
Poles serves as the support plate (shelves) are arranged in the furnace to the pedestal ceramic objects. Poles made of fireproof stone with a cylindrical shape, beam, and a prism with a height varying sizes that can be used in accordance with the size of the high and low ceramics burned. These poles are usually equipped with interlocking props, namely connective buffer to be more stable and not shaky.
Figure 24. Prop / buffer
c. Stilt / spurs
Stilt namely small cones are made of refractory bricks. Stilt used to support glazed ceramic objects at the bottom, so it is not sticky glaze on the plate when it is burned. Stilt forms can be pointed or cone-cone shape of the nail.
Figure 25. Stilt
d. Kapsel
Kapsel serves to protect the ceramic objects were burned in order not exposed to direct fire, especially in the combustion of fuel oil or gas. Kapsel made of refractory bricks with a square shape, a cube, oval or cylindrical with varying sizes.
Image. 26. Kapsel
e. Tile setters
Rack-shaped tool used specifically to support the ceramic objects called tile / tile. With this tool would be more efficient combustion because it does not consume a lot of space and provide more even heat circulation.
Image. 27. Tile setter
f. Plate setters
The tool is shaped rack used specifically to support the ceramic objects such as plates and bowls. The tool also does not take up much space because ceramics can be arranged in the rack.
Image. 28. Plate setter