Tube furnace are engineered to heat a tube. The tube
is surrounded by heating elements which may also incorporate a
thermocouple. The heating and the cooling rates of the tube furnace is
carried out in controlled fashion. They are available in both horizontal
and vertical models. The furnace are available in both single and
multiple zone configuration. They can also be customized in various
designs.
Furnace tubes can be constructed out of various materials. Commonly
used materials are Quartz, Alumina, Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia, etc.
Quartz is used for operable temperature below 1200 degree centigrade
whereas alumina, yttria-stabilized zirconia is commonly used for higher
temperatures.
Features
Buying Tips
While purchasing tube furnace applications must be kept in mind.
The diametere and the length of the tube to be heated should also be
kept in mind. Heating elements are the vital parts of the furnace
hence it should be checked thoroughly. Accessibility and the
temperature distribution are other considerations that need to be
taken before buying tube furnace.
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- These furnaces have well developed insulation system that helps
in the retention. of the temperature inside the furnaces.
- Even at high temperature these furnaces will not hot spot.
- They are resistant to degradation.
- It is easy to access inside the furnace.
The popular type of tube furnace are:
Vertical Tube Furnace
- They are available for use in the vertical position.
- Vertical tube furnaces can operate at high temperatures.
- These furnaces can heat the work tube of varying diameter and
length.
- They utilize various types of heating elements which are
suspended vertically around a separate ceramic work tube to ensure
excellent thermal uniformity.
- Vertical tube furnace can be adapted to allow a non-oxidizing
atmosphere or vacuum, by fitting a longer length work tube and end
seals.
- They are applied in industries like Ceramics Industry, cement
industry, refractory porosity tests, semi-conductor industry etc.
Horizontal Tube Furnace
- Like vertical tube furnaces, horizontal tube furnace too can heat
the tubes of different length and diameter.
- They can be operated at high temperatures.
- The heating elements are arranged vertically around a separate
ceramic work tube to ensure excellent thermal uniformity.
- Horizontal tube furnace can also be adapted to allow a
non-oxidizing atmosphere or vacuum, by fitting a longer length work
tube and end seals.
- They are used for sintering alumina, ceramic industry, material
research, testing of temperature sensors and other instrumentation
applications.
Advantages
The tube furnaces have a significant advantage over other types of
furnaces. In many tube furnaces end of the tube do not get very hot and
so a variety of different adapters may be placed on the ends. This
permits one to perform a reaction under a controlled atmosphere.
Applications
The applications of the tube furnaces are as follows:
- Heat treating
- Melting
- Annealing
- Cleaning
- Reducing
- Firing
- Sintering
- Brazing
- Glass Industry
- Ceramic and Powder Industry
- Semiconductor Industry
