Ceramic components for industrial furnaces

Not all industrial furnaces are created equal — their key difference is the heating technology.

In electric industrial furnaces, heat is produced by electrical resistances; for safe and efficient operation these resistances require tubes, insulating plates and ceramic supports designed either to house the resistive wire or to form the internal elements of steel-sheathed heating elements.

The case is different for gas-fired furnaces, where heat is generated by burner combustion: here the presence of refractory linings and ceramic components is essential for system efficiency, longevity and safety.

What are the ceramic elements intended for electric furnaces and their characteristics?

Our main ceramic supplies for industrial electric furnaces focus primarily on ceramic tubes, insulating plates for heating elements, and components for steel-sheathed (armored) heating elements. Alumina ceramic tubes are used as supports for bare resistance wire, while plates and supports are essential to ensure correct positioning and electrical insulation of the heating elements. Finally, in the ceramic components for sheathed heating elements, the ceramic plays a crucial role as an electrical insulator and thermal-dielectric material; these parts enable electric furnaces to operate at high temperatures (900–1300 °C) while maintaining stability, safety and long service life.

The ceramic elements intended for industrial electric furnaces must possess precise characteristics to guarantee reliable performance over time.

Mechanical strength: for example, this is achieved by using mixes enriched with alumina, which give the structure compactness and solidity.
Electrical resistance/insulation: to achieve this, clays with low levels of iron oxides and alkalis are used; these maintain dielectric properties even at high temperatures.
Thermal-shock resistance: obtained by carefully calibrating the ceramic’s porosity or by introducing magnesium oxide into the composition.

The combination of these properties makes thermodielectric refractories ideal materials for supporting heating elements and thermocouples, ensuring safety and long service life even under the most demanding operating conditions.

Thermodielectric refractories

Ceramic compositions designed for industrial electric furnaces.

Based on their composition and the percentage of alumina they contain, the Savar ceramic materials used in industrial electric furnaces can be divided into three main families:

Alumino-silicates

These materials have an alumina content below 50%. They are particularly valued for their thermal resistance up to 1100–1200 °C and for their excellent ability to withstand sudden thermal shocks, making them ideal in environments subject to rapid temperature variations. Some examples in this category include A42P, TE, and 42TE.

Aluminous materials

With an alumina content above 50%, this category is distinguished by resistance up to 1300 °C, combined with remarkable dielectric properties and good mechanical stability. These are reliable and durable materials, ideal for applications that demand high performance and continuous operation. Examples include 55TE, 80TE, 85TE, and 90TE.

Cordierite

With an average composition of 38% alumina enriched with magnesium oxide, cordierite combines excellent thermal-shock resistance with superior mechanical strength. It can operate up to 1100 °C and is ideal for contexts where reliability and durability are essential. This category includes ST (thermoelectric steatite).

Applications of ceramic elements for industrial furnaces

Savar ceramic components stand out for their extraordinary versatility, making them indispensable in a wide range of production fields where high-temperature management and material stability are critical factors. They are used, for example, in furnaces for heat treatment and billet annealing in metallurgy, as well as in furnaces for glass production and melting, where high performance and continuous operation are required.

Their presence is equally essential in sectors closer to everyday life, such as food furnaces for bread baking or pizza ovens, where consistent temperature is the key to a perfect result. Ceramic components are also employed in abrasive furnaces dedicated to the production of grinding wheels and bonded abrasives, in melting furnaces with refractory or ceramic crucibles, and in ceramic kilns — the beating heart of a sector that combines tradition with innovation. Finally, there are applications with extremely high technological requirements, such as furnaces for the aerospace industry, where reliability and extreme resistance are absolute musts. This versatility is made possible by a careful selection of raw materials and manufacturing processes capable of ensuring thermal, mechanical, and electrical resistance.

Savar is your trusted partner for high-performance ceramic components.

With know-how dating back to 1977 and a constant focus on quality, we offer high-performance ceramic screws that are both reliable and sustainable. Manufactured from 96% alumina, they are designed for applications where traditional metallic materials can't ensure safety, durability, or compatibility with critical environments. In addition, the design of our ceramic screws can be fully customized to meet specific customer requirements — from head shapes (hexagonal, socket, etc.) to thread pitch and diameter.