21 Nov 2018
By Dave Cockett
Using Gold Insulation in Transparent Tube Laboratory Furnaces

Using Gold Insulation in Transparent Tube Laboratory Furnaces

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Gold (Au) remains one of the most sought-after precious metals in the world for its superficial monetary value, but it also exhibits useful electro- and thermomechanical behavior for engineering and manufacturing applications. With a thermal conductivity of roughly 310 Watts per meter-Kelvin W/(mK) from room temperature up to 225°C (437°F) and outstanding reflectivity to infrared (IR) radiation, it is routinely used to manufacture protective films for satellites and faceplates for space suits. These novel properties are gradually being recognized in a broader range of fields. Most recently, gold has been employed for thermally-efficient heat shieldings in the engine bays of…
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07 Nov 2018
By Dave Cockett
4 Custom Industrial Furnace Types from Thermcraft

4 Custom Industrial Furnace Types from Thermcraft

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Conventional tools and components often do not suit the requirements of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) developing specialist or non-standard products. These may require low tolerances for physical variation, high uniformity with regards to thermodynamic characteristics, or numerous other unique requirements that cannot be assured with standard machinery. Custom industrial furnaces can, therefore, be extremely beneficial for OEM production lines with heat treatment requirements. A custom industrial furnace eliminates elements of uncertainty for specialist thermal processing. They can be engineered with specific controls and capabilities to meet the most demanding of heat treatment challenges. This blog post will explore four types…
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18 Oct 2018
By Dave Cockett
High Temperature Heating Element Geometries from Thermcraft

High Temperature Heating Element Geometries from Thermcraft

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Electrical resistance heating is one of the most efficient forms of thermal processing for industrial sectors. It uses thermodynamically stable resistors to convert electricity into heat and high-performance insulation materials to distribute temperatures uniformly throughout a heating chamber. The most efficient high temperature heating elements are subsequently comprised of multiple materials. Precious and rare metals such as tungsten (W), and engineered ceramics like silicon carbide (SiC) are broadly used to fabricate high temperature heating elements of varied geometries to suit a range of furnace architectures. This blog post will explore the high temperature heating element geometries available from Thermcraft in…
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05 Oct 2018
By Dave Cockett
Durability Testing in High Temperature Industrial Ovens and Furnaces

Durability Testing in High Temperature Industrial Ovens and Furnaces

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High temperature durability testing is used to assess the potential service life of a component engineered for harsh operating conditions. A durability test is typically used to measure the physical integrity of a material in response to one or more forms of thermodynamic stress, from continuous agitation to elevated temperatures. Gaskets for the mating surface areas in heavy machinery must be characterized as a function of their resistance to wearing via abrasion, for example. Products that are subject to multiple forms of stress simultaneously throughout their lifetime must be measured for durability through more dynamic testing. Such dynamic durability testing…
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19 Sep 2018
By Dave Cockett
Laboratory Ovens for Advanced Tensile Testing

Laboratory Ovens for Advanced Tensile Testing

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Tensile strength is one of the principal characteristics that defines a material’s mechanical behavior. It determines a product’s resistance to axial tension, or pulling forces, and is quantified as the point at which the material will fail due to strain. This is a useful metric for acquiring measuring numerous material properties including yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and Young’s modulus. However, the tensile strength of finished products may vary due to pressure variations or fluctuating temperatures. Laboratory ovens are often used to facilitate tensile testing under high thermal conditions. This provides accurate information regarding the material’s resistance to thermodynamic stress…
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05 Sep 2018
By Dave Cockett
What are NADCAP Furnaces?

What are NADCAP Furnaces?

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NADCAP furnaces are thermal processing components certified by the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP). It is an industry-driven program designed to certify organizations working in the aerospace and defense sectors. The criteria used to accredit an industrial furnace to NADCAP standards are established by qualified experts in the aerospace sector and are tailored to specific processes. This blog post will explore the purpose of NADCAP certification and the latest specifications for NADCAP furnaces in more detail: The Purpose of NADCAP Accreditation The NADCAP process is organized by the Performance Review Institute (PRI). PRI administrators help suppliers gain…
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27 Aug 2018
By Dave Cockett
What is an Industrial Curing Oven?

What is an Industrial Curing Oven?

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An industrial curing oven is a piece of thermal processing equipment designed to improve the strength and durability of a material by accelerating a desirable chemical reaction. In its simplest format, a curing oven achieves this by elevating the temperature of a sample material to within or above a specific limit. This may be enough to improve the physiochemical linkages within the material and improve the mechanical characteristics of the product. More often, one or more catalyzing agents are introduced into the curing oven to facilitate the required reaction. Curing ovens are commonly used to engineer raw materials such as…
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16 Aug 2018
By Dave Cockett
CoilCraft Heaters for Industrial Drying Oven Retrofits

CoilCraft Heaters for Industrial Drying Oven Retrofits

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Industrial drying ovens are unique thermal processing components used to combat the generation of humidity from heat treatment processes. Moisture can escape the surface of a solid sample during high-temperature curing and linger in the atmosphere of the processing chamber. If a furnace is not equipped to exhaust these vapors, the solid sample may reabsorb some of the moisture content and reduce the product yield. This hygroscopic behaviour can result in immediate or eventual product failure. Curing of electronic components, pharmaceutical ingredients, and industrial epoxies must take place in specialized industrial drying ovens that are equipped to ventilate generated vapors…
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09 Aug 2018
By Dave Cockett

Metal Alloy and Ceramic Heating Elements for Electrical Furnaces

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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…
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06 Aug 2018
By Dave Cockett

Ceramic Heating Elements for Semiconductor Heat Treatment

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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…
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