END-FIRED FURNACE REPAIRED USING CERAMIC WELDING TECHNIQUE.

'Ceramic welding' has become an important repair technique for glass furnaces in the USA and Europe. It was invented in the 1970s by Glaverbel, who developed it for repairing their glass tanks. Recent years have seen an increase in its use in the UK glass industry and a large repair was undertaken at Rockware, Knottingley earlier this year. Essentially, the process involves directing a mixture of refractory particles and metallic powders in a stream of oxygen onto the hot face of the refractory structure to be repaired. An exothermic reaction occurs between the metal powders and the oxygen generating temperatures of the order of 2200 degree C. The refractory particles melt, allowing them to fuse onto the refractory structure and affording an intimate bond with that substrate. In this way, refractory structures can be rebuilt in situ, without shutting the furnace down or interrupting production.