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Types of Vacuum Heat-Treating Equipment (part 2)

by Daniel H. Herring Posted: November 24, 2010

For the insulation of the vacuum furnace heating chamber, or hot zone, the following designs and materials are in common use: All metallic (radiation shields) Combination radiation shields and other (ceramic) insulating material Multiple-layer (sandwich) insulation All graphite (board, fiber, carbon-carbon composite) Radiation shields are manufactured from: Tungsten or tantalum having a maximum operating temperature of 4350F (2400C) Molybdenum having a maximum operating temperature of 3100F (1700C) Stainless steel or nickel alloys having a maximum operating temperature of 2100F (1150C) Most all-metallic designs consist of a combination of materials. For example, three molybdenum shields backed by two stainless steel shields would be typical for 2400F (1150C) operation. Radiation shields adsorb only small amounts of gases and water vapors during opening of the furnace. They are, however, expensive to purchase and maintain, and they often require greater pumping capacity to remove any moisture trapped between the shields. Compared with other types of insulation, their heat losses are high and become higher with loss of emissivity (reflectivity) due to the gradual contamination of the shields. Sandwich insulation is composed of one or more radiation shields typically with ceramic-wool insulation between them. Combinations of graphite-fiber sheets and ceramic-wool insulation are also used. These versions are cheaper to buy and maintain but absorb higher levels of water vapor and gases (due to the very large surface area of the insulation wool). Their heat losses are considerably lower than those of radiation shields. Graphite-fiber insulation designs cost somewhat more than sandwich-insulation designs. Because their heat losses are lower, however, a smaller thickness is sufficient. In these designs, the absorption of gases and water vapor is considerably reduced. Furthermore, the heating costs are lower, and the lifetime of this type of insulation is much longer. The maximum operating temperature is around 3630F (2000C). The lifetime depends strongly on the purity of the graphite. In some applications, such as brazing, a sacrificial layer is used to protect the insulation beneath. For most heat treatments in vacuum furnaces, graphite insulation is used. In general, the heating elements for heating systems in vacuum furnaces are made from one of the following materials: Nickel/chromium alloys that can be used up to 2100F (1150C). Above 1475F (800C) there is a risk of evaporation of chromium.

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Silicon carbide with a maximum operating temperature of 2200F (1200C). There is a risk of evaporation of silicon at high temperatures and low vacuum levels. Molybdenum with a maximum operating temperature of 3100F (1700C). Molybdenum becomes brittle at high temperatures and is sensitive to changes in emissivity brought about by exposure to oxygen or water vapor. Graphite can be used up to 3630F (2000C). Graphite is sensitive to exposure to oxygen or water vapor, resulting in reduction in material thickness due to the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) that will be evacuated by the pumps. The strength of graphite increases with temperature. Tantalum has a maximum operating temperature of 4350F (2400C). Tantalum, like molybdenum, becomes brittle at high temperatures and is sensitive to changes in emissivity brought about by exposure to oxygen or water vapor.

Daniel H. Herring dherring@heat-treat-doctor.com Dan Herring is president of THE HERRING GROUP Inc., which specializes in consulting services (heat treatment and metallurgy) and technical services (industrial education/training and process/equipment assistance. He is also a research associate professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology/Thermal Processing Technology Center.

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