Blog
Explaining Cordierite Kiln Furniture
Posted by Callum on 28-08-2021
The term “kiln furniture” describes a range of products used by many industries to support items during heat treatment processes. If you have a ceramic item that needs firing in a kiln or furnace, you will probably need kiln furniture to ensure it keeps its shape, doesn’t break during firing, and don’t stick to/damage your kiln. IPS offers an immensely popular range of kiln furniture products made from cordierite. What types of products are in the range, what do they…
How is Silicon Carbide Made?
Posted by Callum on 19-08-2021
Silicon carbide is one of the most common materials used to produce high-performance kiln furniture. It is often found in applications involving temperatures above 1300°C and its high resistance to creep (hot bending) ensures a long service life. How do you make such a strong, dependable material and who helped develop it? Let’s find out: The Acheson Process Most of the silicon carbide used in industry is manufactured through the Acheson Process. The process was invented by Edward Goodrich Acheson,…
What are Alumina Tubes Used For?
Posted by Callum on 11-08-2021
Alumina Tubes, as their name implies, are tubes made out of alumina. They are used for a wide range of industrial applications due to their diverse properties. What are these properties, which industries use them, and how are they used? Let’s find out: What is Alumina? The term ‘Alumina’ is just a short way of saying ‘Aluminium Oxide’. Making up around 15% of the chemical composition of the Earth’s crust, Aluminium Oxide is a very common material that can be…
The Art of the Office: Redesigning the IPS Conference Room
Posted by Tom Evans on 27-07-2021
Covid has moved people away from face-to-face meetings and towards the conference call. As such, we have decided that our conference room needs jazzing up with a new feature wall. It is a fine art, redesigning an office or conference room. You have to strike the right balance between professionalism and approachability, but we think we have done just that. Here is the story of how IPS Ceramics performed the perfect office redesign. Origins of the Idea IPS offers conference…
IPS Ceramics Awarded ISO 9001 Re-Certification
Posted by Tom Evans on 20-07-2021
After a recent audit by Lucideon CICS Ltd, IPS Ceramics have passed re-certification against the ISO 9001 standard. ISO 9001 is a recognised national and international quality standard which guarantees a certified company's ability to meet or exceed their customer expectations. 2020 was a challenging year in which to maintain our business processes, yet IPS Ceramics passed their recent audit with flying colours. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="medium" ids="5352,5353"] Brian Wycherley (our Technical Manager, pictured above) said that “this external validation…
A Brief History of Saggars
Posted by Tom Evans on 28-06-2021
Put basically, the saggar is a deep ceramic box used in industrial applications to hold materials or items while they’re being fired in a kiln or furnace. While they can look relatively simple, the saggar was one of the first items of kiln furniture ever invented and has been through many ups-and-downs during its long existence. We’re here to pay tribute to the elder of the ceramics world and take a look inside the saggar. The Early Age (Pre-1700s) The…