Those components which have the function of bearing, supporting or holding components in furnaces are referred to as kiln furniture. This means the kiln furniture is in direct contact with the work pieces which are submitted to thermal treatment. For this reason, the kiln furniture has to be characterized by a high temperature stability, dimensional stability and thermal shock stability. Moreover, contamination of the components, of the furnace atmosphere and of the furnace as well as a reaction with the work piece to be treated has to be avoided. Compared with traditional kiln furniture made of steel or other metals the ceramic materials offer numerous advantages. They are much more lightweight and, hence, have a considerably lower thermal mass. Temperature stability and thermal shock stability are high and so is the life-time of the ceramics.

Kiln furniture can be found mostly within sintering furnitures of the refractory and ceramics industry. Furthermore, kiln furniture is applied in heat treatment of glasses and metals (hardening shops). Depending on the concrete requirements, various materials can be selected for the production: silicon carbide, mixed ceramics, aluminium oxide and other oxide ceramics. CFC composites can be used for demanding applications in an inert atmosphere.