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 synthetic adhesives, thermoset polymers, and rubber. Chemical curing is also used to enhance the properties of construction materials in situ, but this application requires highly-specialized curing apparatuses to encourage thermosetting in situ over extended periods.

Polymerization: A Common Curing Oven Application

Polymerization refers to the formation of complex polymer chains from small molecule monomers across a broad range of chemical species and functional groups. This reaction is responsible for some of the most industrially-consumed plastics worldwide, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. Curing ovens are used to encourage the formation of high-strength bonds between monomers and synthetically ‘grow’ these materials in high-temperature environments.

Epoxy resins can also be formed through industrial curing, by heating liquidized polyethers to create a network of long-chain molecules. These products are ubiquitous in construction and engineering, with countless applications as an intermediary product.

Curing Ovens from Thermcraft

Thermcraft is a leading supplier of thermal processing equipment for a broad range of applications. We prepare curing ovens in a range of configurations with heating capacities ranging above 1700°C (3092°F) for refractory polymerization reactions. Our furnaces can be optimized for raw material or end-product thermal processing, with considerations for distinct application requirements.

Atmospheric controls, simple user interfaces, multiple data outputs, and customizable heating elements are available for bespoke curing oven configurations. We also offer ongoing aftercare to ensure that our machinery fits into your facility and continues operating at the highest of standards for as long as possible.

Explore the range of industrial furnaces available from Thermcraft in further detail. Or, if you would like any more information about our curing ovens, please do not hesitate to contact us.