Insulating structure for high temperature devices

A furnace comprising:

• a radiant heat source which in operation is at a temperature in excess of 1000.degree. F., and
• insulation for confining heat emitted from said heat source, said insulation comprising:
• a shell comprising a front face of refractory material proximate said heat source and a rear face substantially parallel to said front face, said front and rear faces defining a hollow interior, and
• a plurality of refractory baffles having an emissivity greater than 0.5 disposed within said hollow interior substantially parallel to said front face and defining plural spaces therebetween.

An insulating tile for use in shielding high temperature radiant heat sources comprising:

• a face of refractory material for placement proximate the radiant heat source;
• a rigid member for providing weight bearing capability to said tile;
• a plurality of refractory, parallel, spaced-apart baffles disposed outwardly from said face, defining spaces therebetween;
• and
• at least one reflective surface disposed outwardly from, parallel to, and facing said baffles, said reflective surface having an emissivity less than about 0.3,
• the number of said baffles being sufficient to reduce the heat absorbed by said reflective surface to a level sufficient to avoid substantial increases in the emissivity of said reflective surface at the temperature of use of said tile.