An infrared burner plate works by surface combustion: the gas-air mix burns at the face of the honeycomb rather than in a flame above it, so almost all the energy leaves as far-infrared radiation instead of hot convection gas. That is what makes it efficient — makers of gas radiant heaters cite energy savings of around forty to fifty percent against open-flame heating — and clean, with complete combustion and low emissions. Cordierite is used for its strength and its resistance to the thermal shock of repeated firing, and the porosity, hole size and wall thickness are tuned to the burner. Made square and round, in the size the appliance needs.
