Bucher Emhart Glass is now providing complete refractory solutions for forehearths, including channel blocks, sub-and superstructure and insulation. The company's type 333 channel blocks are available together with a high performance mullite superstructure. Forehearth components are made with high quality, high purity materials. The workhorse material for forehearths is a mullite composition. This is used for roof blocks, burner blocks, chimney blocks and various other shapes. If a particular component requires a more premium composition, an alumina fortified mullite is used. In colourant forehearths or other applications where corrosion is a concern, a zircon mullite material possessing excellent resistance to alkali vapour attack is used. The composition is also used for channel blocks and stirrer covers. Glassfibre forehearths require a silica-free composition so for this application, a zirconia toughened alumina is offered. A new introduction to the Bucher Emhart Glass refractory materials portfolio is EmLite 30, a lightweight material for refractory covers that has all the robustness of typical refractory materials, while at the same time reducing the weight of the part by 30% compared to covers made from a conventional mullite. The weight reduction in EmLite 30 is achieved by increasing the porosity in the material, while still preserving its strength and resistance to alkali vapour corrosion. This increased porosity also has s the effect of reducing the thermal conductivity of the material, giving an increased insulation value. Improving the insulation value above the spout will help to keep heat inside the spout and reduce the temperature of the covers themselves. EmLite 30 is available in all front and rear refractory spout covers. The reduced weight eases the stress on the operators during installation. An 80 pound rear cover now weighs 56 pounds, a considerable difference when reaching over a hot spout for installation.
