Author: Dave Cockett

Electrical resistance heating is the leading thermal processing method for industrial heat treatment applications due to its unparalleled levels of efficiency. Gas furnaces use combustion methods to increase the temperature values of process chambers, relying on thermal distribution via ceramic insulation or convection to uniformly treat materials or components. This method can be unsuitable for chemically-sensitive processes and can result in higher degrees of energy loss compared to electrical heating. Comparing the Maximum Watt Loading of Heating Elements Metallic alloy and ceramic heating elements in electrical furnaces convert 100% of supplied electricity into heat. These components are typically categorized by…

Semiconductor materials are synthesized through complex processes comprised of multiple stages including diffusion and oxidation. These lithographic steps take place when dopant materials are introduced to the substrate material of the semiconductor to optimise the electronic capabilities of the device. This is the final stage of semiconductor fabrication, requiring high-quality ceramic heating elements and highly pure thermal processing chambers to achieve the desirable electronic properties. Diffusion is the preferred deposition method for semiconductor dopant materials that are typically introduced to the substrate through atomic layer deposition (ALD) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD). High-temperature thermal processing is then used to encourage…

Numerous considerations must be considered when purchasing high temp furnaces, particularly for applications where the atmospheric composition of a hearth at process temperatures can affect the product yield. Select heat treatment processes are optimally carried out in vacuum conditions to reduce the risk of cross-reactivity and negate mechanical issues associated with gas permeation and adsorption. This is not an issue for alternative curing methods which can be routinely carried out in a regular air atmosphere. This blog post will explore the importance of atmospheric composition in high temp furnaces in more detail: Atmospheric Importance in Heat Treatment Procedures Atmospheric controls…

High temperature furnaces are robust instruments that are typically encapsulated in heavy gage superstructures, with efficient heating elements and insulating components providing the necessary thermodynamic environment for distinct heat treatment processes. This arrangement can result in a high device footprint, often forcing industrial and laboratory facilities to compromise between specificity and versatility. The dual chamber high temperature furnace from Thermcraft aims to resolve this situation by providing a rugged heat treatment component capable of performing multiple thermal processing methods at varying temperature requirements. This article will explore the dual chamber tool room furnace in further detail: Dual Chamber High Temperature…

Natural gas furnaces use direct fuel combustion to heat a sample within the equipment’s internal chamber. Electrical heaters with ceramic fiber and metallic wire thermal elements have found more common application than natural gas furnaces in recent years, with advances in low mass vacuum forming of ceramic insulation providing improved thermodynamic capacities. However, certain firing applications require natural gas heating for increased heating speeds, improved temperature uniformity, or distinct chamber-atmosphere conditions. Controlled atmosphere natural gas furnaces enable manufacturers to thermally treat products or materials to refractory temperatures with exceptional selection of the internal atmospheric composition. This article will outline the…

Thermal treatment of pharmaceutical products can take place at numerous stages of the development process. Inert drug-carrying materials may be sterilized with solvents and processed through heating equipment before they are compounded with biologically active ingredients. These dosage form pharmaceuticals are then typically cured in a sterile furnace to reduce the product’s hydroscopic qualities and its risk of phase transitions in the presence of packaging plastics. At primary, secondary, and tablet coating stages of development, purity and uniformity must be maintained with negligible margins of error. Furnace suppliers for pharmaceutical applications must pay due consideration to these parameters, to meet…