The shell of the kiln is made of mild steel plate. Mild steel is the only viable material for the purpose, but presents the problem that the maximum temperature of the feed inside the kiln is over 1400°C, while the gas temperatures reach 1900°C. The melting point of mild steel is around 1300°C, and it starts to weaken at 480°C, so considerable effort is required to protect the shell from overheating.