Month: March 2018

A fiber optic furnace is an industrial heater developed and manufactured for drawing glass composite materials such as silica (SiO2) into transparent optical fibers between 5 – 100 microns in diameter without cladding. These are instrumental for modern telecommunications due to their high strength, flexibility, and wavelength transmittance. Drawing glass fibers in a fiber optic furnace requires precise instrumentation with excellent temperature uniformity to optimize the end-products and ensure optical fibers do not crystallize or become damaged during the drawing process. The fiber optic industry requires furnaces designed to varying specifications, with an element of adaptability, as the chemical composition…

Ceramic fiber insulation is an industrial insulation product with a low heat storage, low thermal conductivity, high thermal shock resistance, and lightweight physical properties. It is available in a variety of densities and forms to suit varied heating environments where temperatures regularly exceed 1000°C (1832°F). Thermcraft’s distinguished range of vacuum formed ceramic fiber insulation is manufactured using high purity alumina-based ceramic fiber which is fit for a range of purposes, including semi-cylindrical insulation, board insulation, and blanket or formable insulation for reduced rigidity. This article will explore some of the ceramic fiber insulation products available from Thermcraft in more detail:…

Annealing is a heat treatment process that is used to alter the chemical or physical properties of a metal to make it more ductile and reduce its hardness. An annealing furnace works by heating an annealing furnace above its recrystallization temperature and then cooling once the sample has been maintained at this temperature for a suitable amount of time. During the annealing process, the atoms within a sample diffuse in the crystal lattice and the number of dislocations reduce, changing the ductility and hardness properties of the sample. Recrystallisation occurs as the sample cools down. Heating the sample is what…

A heating element is used to convert electricity into heat, and within an industrial furnace, there are various materials that can be used. Typically, iron-chrome aluminum or nickel chrome alloys are used in furnaces, and the standard shapes are cylindrical, semi-circular, or flat panels. This blog post will look at the other different types of materials that can be used as high-temperature heating elements. Precious Metals A precious metal can be materials including pure platinum, pure rhodium, and platinum/rhodium alloys, however these materials aren’t as common as others as they have a high cost. Precious metals are often used as…