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fiber boards and binders

updated sat 20 mar 99

 

Roger Korn on fri 19 mar 99

Nils and Feriz in particular, but anyone else who might know:

I have been experimenting with Thermal Ceramics M-Board as a hot face in
gas kilns, coated with ITC-100HT. M-Board is made from (probably vacuum)
compressed ceramic fiber. There is an organic binder that burns out at a
low (~500C) temp and a high temp binder that rigidizes the panel at a
higher temperature. The thought has occurred to me that a 'monocoque'
kiln might be formed over a male plug that would define the interior,
laying fiber soaked in binder on the plug, followed by 3-4" of 4# fiber,
with a glass-reinforced "gunnite" (calcium aluminate-based castable?)
shell, putting a mylar vacuum bag over the assembly, applying 1-2 psi
vacuum and curing the organic binder and castable at ~200C.

My question is, what is the organic binder used in M-Board, and what is
the high-temp binder/rigidizer used? Any ideas? I really want to try
this as a way of building a light weight "no-frame" kiln.

Have fun at NCECA, all. Wish I could be there. Next year in Colorado!

Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
(503) 647-5464
rkorn@europa.com