Crucibles (Low Lat. crucibulum; from the root of Old Fr. cruche, 'a pot') are vessels made of materials capable of being exposed to high temperatures without alteration, and used for fusing substances together, such as the materials for glass-making, or metallic ores, with various fluxes to obtain the several metals they yield. Crucibles should resist the corrosive action of the substances brought into contact with them, and are generally made of fireclay, porcelain, graphite, iron, platinum, and, for some special operations, of silver. See ASSAYING.
