A METHOD OF INCREASING THE USEFUL LIFE OF A MOLYBDENUM SILICIDE HEATING ELEMENT

摘要

A method of increasing the useful life of heating elements that consist essentially of molybdenum silicide and alloys of this basic material, said elements operating at high temperatures in heat treatment processes and resting against the floor and/or the ceiling of a furnace.The invention is characterised by causing the heating element to lie in direct abutment with aluminium oxide brick material, wherein the heating element material contains molybdenum silicide and alloys thereof, and wherein said material is caused to contain aluminium to an extent sufficient to maintain a stable, slowly growing layer of aluminium oxide on the surface of the heating element.