ADVANCER® Kiln Shelves
Lighter, Stronger and More Versatile then Any Other Shelf
| 12” X 24” X 5/16” | 9lb | $299 |
| 14” X 28” X 5/16” | 13lb | $400 |
| 10” X 20” X 5/16” | 6lb | $259 |
| 11” X 22” X 5/16” | 8lb | $313 |
| 12” X 12” X 5/16” | 4lb | $153 |
| 13” X 26” X 5/16” | 9lb | $349 |
| 16” X 16” X 5/16” | 7lb | $292 |
| 18” X 18” X 5/16” | 10lb | $378 |
| 18” X 24” X 5/16” ** | 12lb | $415 |
| 20” X 20” X 5/16” | 11lb | $403 |
| 22” X 22” X 5/16” ** | 13lb | $450 |
| 24” X 24” X 5/16” ** | 16lb | $509 |
| 16″ X 16″ X 16″ x 5/16″ Triangular Plate Stacker For 12″ diamater unfired plate. 1.5″ Diam. Center Vent Hole |
7 lb. | $145 |
**Special Considerations for Large Shelves in Electric Kilns**
Call 866-545-6743 for ordering and availability.
*Additional sizes and custom cutting available.
Imitated but never equaled, ADVANCER® kiln shelves are thin, lightweight kiln shelves made from an advanced nitride-bonded silicon carbide composition. ADVANCER kiln shelves are 19 times stronger, and weigh 50% less than conventional silicon carbide shelves or 1” thick cordierite shelves.
Made flat to stay flat so there’s no warping even after many firings under heavy loads. Advanced nitride-bonded silicon carbide (NSiC) is distinguished from conventional nitride-bonded silicon carbide in that it is significantly stronger, thinner and much more resistant to oxidation; suitable for temperatures up to 2600°F!
Low mass and high thermal conductivity result in shorter firing cycles helping potters to save energy, improve productivity and reduce overall firing costs. Also, at only 5/16” thick, for every 5 layers of shelves you save 3-3/8” of stacking height compared to conventional 1″ shelves. That can add another shelf layer for every firing!
View ADVANCER® CN-703 Technical Bulletin for complete information.
Proper storage and drying requirements for ADVANCER® Kiln Shelves.
Call 866-545-6743 to order now or contact us.
Gas-Fired Kilns
ADVANCER® Kiln Shelves are most widely used in gas fired oxidation and reduction kilns. The use of ADVANCER Kiln Shelves has been proven to increase productivity and save money in hobby, production studio and industrial applications.
Soda Firing
ADVANCER® Kiln Shelves are a smart choice for soda firing where soda is introduced indirectly (not by direct spraying onto shelves). The extremely low porosity of the shelves allows for soda drips to be easily removed by scraping without the time consuming grinding typically associated with conventional cordierite or silicon carbide shelves.
Wood Firing
ADVANCER® Kiln Shelves have been used successfully in second and third chambers of wood-fired kilns. A combination of ADVANCER Kiln Shelves and Crystolon® (conventional silicon carbide shelves) is often a sound kiln furniture system in areas where direct flame impingement and temperature uniformity is a problem.
Oxidation Differences Between Advancer® and Crystolon® Shelves ↓
Oxidation in Wood Fired Kilns
ADVANCER® forms a glass layer on the surface in an oxidizing atmosphere. The actual process is oxidation of the silicon carbide grain. We double fire Advancer in an oxidizing atmosphere to intentionally form a glass layer. The resulting glass surface is actually a protective layer (when intact) that prohibits further oxidation of the Advancer® surface beneath. Advancer® forms more of a glass layer than Crystolon® because it has a higher surface area of silicon carbide grain (i.e., fine grain sizing and virtually no porosity).
The combustion material (wood) is a likely source of alkalis (e.g., potassium) in the atmosphere of these kilns. The alkalis are likely fluxing the glass layer and dropping its viscosity so it drips more readily. When the glass viscosity drops, two things occur that compound the problem.
1. Oxygen can penetrate the glass layer faster by diffusion thereby increasing the oxidation rate.
2. Oxidation off gases produce bubbles in the glass which is the “frothing” or “foaming” observed. The bubbling is more pronounced in humid environments because a surface reaction with water can give off extra CO gas. The wood is also a likely source of water that can make a bad situation worse.
Surface Area
The main difference between the oxidation rate of Advancer® and Crystolon® is surface area. Crystolon shelves will likely experience an increased oxidation rate when the surface oxide (glass layer) is infected by alkalis; however, the oxidation rate will be much slower than Advancer® given the low surface area.
Bubbling or “frothing” would also be less pronounced with Crystolon® given its low surface are. Generally speaking, Advancer® has much better oxidation resistance (i.e., a protective bond) then Crystolon® but the ultimate life of Advancer® in this environment will have to come from experience. The exact properties of the altered glass layer are difficult to predict and are greatly influenced by temperature and the type of alkalis that are created as a by-product of the combustion of wood.