subject: Graphite Furnaces Help Achieve Highest Process Temperatures [print this page] The high thermal conductivity of graphite makes it an ideal lining for the chamber of a furnace that needs to withstand processes that involve temperatures ranging up to 3000 degrees centigrade. A furnace that incorporates graphite blocks for its inner linings is often referred to as a graphite furnace. The high thermal conductivity of graphite is highly critical in certain chemical and heat treating processes. In some cases, carbon-magnesite bricks might be replaced with high purity monolithic.
Building hot zones in a furnace is a task best left to the experts because the smallest callousness in this case could lead to severe damage. Hence, it is advisable to choose a furnace manufacturing firm that has the required capabilities to design and build faultless hot zones for a variety of high temperature applications. These applications are best carried out in a graphite furnace. This is possible due to the presence of graphite heater elements along with felt or rigid graphite board insulation equipment for suitable support.
However, in some cases, this type of a furnace might pose a risk of carbon reaction or even particulate contamination in your product or process. In such a case, the use of refractory hot zones made from metal is the optimal solution. Apart from the heat treating chamber of the furnace itself, graphite might be used for related equipment that is fitted into the chamber.
In addition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) furnaces are also used in several cases. A CVD furnace comprises a hot wall system wherein deposition also occurs on the walls of the furnace. These are used for the chemical vapor deposition and chemical vapor infiltration of various materials such as boron nitride, zinc sulfide, silicon carbide, etc. Gas and vapor delivery systems are integrated with the heating chamber so as to easily allow delivery of carrier gases such as methane, nitrogen, hydrogen among others.
Ancillary equipment such as waste stream management systems can easily be integrated into these furnaces. In addition, leak detection systems and safety alert features can be added. Users stand to benefit from several advantages in a CVD furnace such as impeccable control of temperature, pressure, gas flows etc.
Before you invest in a furnace, it is important to ensure that your chosen manufacturer has several decades of experience and uses the latest manufacturing techniques. Parameter combinations for metal or graphite furnaces can be provided by such firms. For instance, you could choose between HIP pressure, high temperature with flowing, high vacuum with HIP pressure or several other combinations based on your specific requirements. A graphite furnace help you achieve the highest temperatures required for your processes. Choose furnaces that comply with the latest industry codes and standards to ensure complete safety.
