Research and development in the field of metals, slags and the like conventionally involve the use of bulky, expensive and relatively unsophisticated melting equipment.
In laboratories, melting furnaces are used which are small only as compared to full scale industrial furnaces. They must be permanently installed and normally comprise a steel shell lined with substantially the same refractory used by the industrial furnaces.
Using such a refractory lining and with furnace temperatures the same or possibly higher than those of many industrial furnaces, the furnace linings of laboratory furnaces must be made with the lining thicknesses of the industrial furnace linings, to maintain the outside of the furnace at tolerable temperatures for the operating technicians.
A small portable furnace unit which can be used to melt only a few hundred grams of material under precisely controlled conditions, with a finger-touchable outside surface temperature, is an attractive concept in connection with improving the technology of experimenting and developing high temperature melting materials. The development of such a small furnace unit has been inhibited by the prior art concepts concerning melting furnace constructions.