Solving Intermittent Metallic Furnace Contamination

Resolving this repeated issue with a signature of aluminum containing particles proved to be a lengthy, challenging process which involved considerable experimentation and material analysis. This journey was accompanied with fascinating scientific observations and riddled with frustrating dead ends. Ultimately, utilizing Kepner-Tregoe problem solving methods we were able to disprove a plethora of plausible theories. This led to a root cause explanation which involved the alignment of a lift cylinder leak with wear on furnace quartz cushion material, also called ‘quartz rope.’