Thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification

A thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification of crystalline material, the baffle adapted for mounting at one end of a furnace such as to enable linear relative movement between a mould and tile baffle when the mould is to be removed from the furnace, the baffle comprising:

• at least one substantially horizontal layer of interconnected flexible warp and weft strips of refractory material, each such layer comprising an ordered construction of said interconnected flexible warp and weft strips, with at least one elongated slit therein traversing a center axis of the baffle to thereby enable the mould to pass through the layer with edges of each slit engaging the mould in a resilient manner, and wherein said at least one elongated slit is inclined in a horizontal plane at an angle of at least 10.degree. to said interconnected flexible warp and weft strips;
• and in which a plurality of layers of interconnected flexible warp and weft strips are provided, and tile elongated slits in a plurality of layers are not aligned with each other.

A thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification of crystalline material, tile baffle adapted for mounting at one end of a furnace such as to enable linear relative movement between a mould and the baffle when the mould is to be removed from the furnace, the baffle comprising:

• at least one substantially horizontal layer of interconnected flexible warp and weft strips of refractory material, said at least one substantially horizontal layer comprising an ordered construction of said flexible warp and weft strips, with at least one elongated slit therein traversing a vertical center axis of the baffle to thereby enable the mould to pass through the layer with edges of each slit engaging the mould in a resilient manner, and wherein said at least one elongated slit is inclined in a horizontal plane at an angle of at least 10.degree. to said interconnected flexible warp and weft strips;
• and in which said at least one slit which is provided between two separate pieces of interconnected flexible warp and weft strips adjacent each other in the plane of the layer, each adjacent edge of said two separate pieces forming the arranged such that at least substantially the whole of the slit is inclined at an angle to the interconnected flexible warp and weft strips forming the associated pieces.

A thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification of crystalline material, the baffle adapted for mounting at one end of a furnace such as to enable linear relative movement between a mould and the baffle when the mould is to be removed from the furnace, the baffle comprising:

• at least one substantially horizontal layer of interconnected flexible warp and weft strips of refractory material, each such layer comprising an ordered construction of said flexible warp and weft strips, with at least one elongated slit therein to thereby enable the mould to pass through the layer with edges of each slit engaging the mould in a resilient manner, and wherein said at least one elongated slit is inclined in a horizontal plane at an angle of at least 10.degree. to said flexible warp and weft strips, and wherein said at least one layer of interconnected strips is provided with a permanent aperture, in addition to the, or each, slit.

A thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification of crystalline material, the baffle adapted for mounting at one end of a furnace such as to enable linear relative movement between a mould and the baffle when the mould is to be removed from the furnace, the baffle comprising:

• at least one substantially horizontal layer of interconnected flexible warp and weft strips of refractory material, each such layer comprising an ordered construction of said flexible warp and weft strips, with at least one elongated slit therein to thereby enable the mould to pass through the layer with edges of each slit engaging the mould in a resilient manner, and wherein said at least one elongated slit is inclined in a horizontal plane at an angle of at least 10.degree. to said flexible warp and weft strips.