Yesterday, I got a big roll of this fluffy stuff called alumina blanket. It’s supposed to be some kind of super insulator, good for really high temperatures. I’ve got this old kiln that’s been leaking heat like crazy, so I figured I’d try using this stuff to patch it up.
First, I put on some gloves and a mask ’cause the package said this stuff can be itchy and you don’t wanna breathe it in. Then, I unrolled the blanket. It’s kind of like a big, white cotton roll, but way denser.
Cutting and Shaping
Next, I measured out the areas on the kiln that needed patching. I used a big pair of scissors to cut the blanket into the right shapes. It was surprisingly easy to cut, like slicing through thick felt.
- Measured the leaky spots on the kiln.
- Cut the alumina blanket into the right sizes.
Applying the Blanket
After cutting, I wrapped the pieces around the damaged parts of the kiln. I used some high-temperature wire to tie everything in place. It was a bit tricky to get it snug, but I managed.
Firing It Up
Once everything was in place, I fired up the kiln to see how well the blanket would hold up. I was a bit nervous, but it seemed to do the trick! The kiln heated up faster, and I could feel way less heat escaping from the outside. The kiln heated to much higher temperatures than before! I was stoked, I mean the blanket was working!
So far, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. The kiln is definitely working better now. We’ll see how it holds up over time, but for now, it seems like a pretty solid fix. I think alumina blanket is great. This is just some random stuff off the internet, I didn’t really read it but it seems related:
“Alumina fiber cotton is a type of high-temperature insulation material that is made from aluminum oxide (Al2O3) fibers. These fibers are spun and then processed into a fluffy.”
“Alumina is defined as aluminum oxide, a white powder produced through the Bayer process which involves the dissolution of bauxite in caustic soda.”
Anyways, that’s my story for today.
