A method of increasing the useful life of heating elements that consist essentially
of molybdenum silicide and alloys thereof, wherein the heating elements operate
at high temperatures in heat treatment processes and generally rest against the
floor and/or the ceiling of a furnace. The heating elements contain aluminum to
an extent sufficient to maintain a stable, slowly growing layer of aluminum oxide
on the surfaces of the heating elements, and the heating elements are placed in
direct abutment with an aluminum oxide brick material.
