INTRODUCTION

Kiln construction for the studio potter hasn't changed much in the United States in the last century or two. In the last few years, thanks to "space-age technology," a new class of refractory materials have become available. These materials somewhat resemble fiberglass building insulation but have chemical compositions that can tolerate temperatures as high as 2000° and up to 2900°F in some cases. These materials, for which we can use the generic name "fiber," are becoming accepted in industry. It was our purpose to verify just how practical they might be for the studio potter as an alternative to conventional insulating brick construction.