What experiments can be conducted on a customized experimental rotary tube furnace?

The customized experimental rotary tube furnace, with its unique rotating heating design, precise atmosphere control capability, and flexible customization characteristics, has demonstrated significant advantages in multiple fields such as materials science, chemical engineering, and new energy development. It can support the following key experiments:

1. Material synthesis and preparation
Ceramic material sintering
Uniform densification of ceramic powder is achieved through rotary heating, eliminating internal defects. For example, sintering alumina ceramics in a vacuum environment at 1600 ℃ can obtain high-purity materials with a density>3.9 g/cm ³, suitable for electronic packaging substrates or bioceramics (such as dental implants).
Precision control of nanomaterials
In an inert atmosphere (such as nitrogen), TiO ₂ nanoparticles with a particle size of 10-20 nm are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or nanometer powders with a high specific surface area (>100 m2/g) are prepared by pyrolysis at 500 ℃ using the sol gel method, providing basic materials for photocatalysis, sensors and other fields.
Preparation of metal based composite materials
After mixing aluminum powder with alumina particles, hot pressing sintering was carried out at 600 ℃ and 50 MPa pressure to obtain Al ₂ O3/Al composite materials with a density greater than 98%, significantly improving the strength and wear resistance of the material.

2. Heat treatment and performance optimization
Annealing and Quenching of Metal Materials
Under controlled atmosphere (such as hydrogen reduction environment), annealing treatment is carried out on metal materials to eliminate internal stress, or the microstructure is adjusted through quenching process to optimize the mechanical properties of materials (such as hardness and toughness).
Annealing repair of semiconductor materials
Annealing of semiconductor chips after ion implantation in vacuum or inert atmosphere can repair lattice damage and activate impurity atoms, thereby improving device performance and stability. For example, in the preparation of negative electrode materials for silicon-based solar cells, ultrafast Joule heating technology is used to form carbonized silicon “rivets” to enhance the bonding strength between graphene and silicon.
Heat treatment of magnetic materials
Heat treat soft/hard magnetic materials, adjust crystal structure to optimize magnetic properties (such as increasing magnetic permeability and coercivity), and meet application needs such as motors and transformers.

3. Catalytic research and reaction testing
Catalyst synthesis and activation
Synthesize catalysts under specific atmospheres (such as oxidizing or reducing gases) and activate their activity through high-temperature treatment. For example, preparing Fe ∝ O ₄ catalyst by oxidizing pure iron sheets in an air atmosphere at 800 ℃, or obtaining high-purity copper catalyst by reducing copper oxide powder with hydrogen gas.
Catalytic performance evaluation
Conduct catalytic reaction tests in a tubular furnace to evaluate the activity, selectivity, and stability of the catalyst. For example, by using TGA combined technology to measure the pyrolysis residual carbon rate of polyethylene in N ₂ atmosphere, the influence of catalyst on carbon deposition behavior can be analyzed.

4. Development of new energy materials
Preparation of lithium-ion battery materials
In the preparation of positive and negative electrode materials for lithium batteries, materials are rapidly synthesized through high-temperature thermal shock strategy to reduce energy consumption and improve battery performance. For example, controlling the thermal interaction between carbon and silicon phases in a rotary tube furnace can solve the phase separation problem in traditional heat treatment.
Synthesis of Fuel Cell Materials
Accurately control temperature and atmosphere, synthesize key materials required for fuel cells (such as proton exchange membranes, electrode catalysts), and optimize their electrochemical performance.
Recycling and disposal of waste batteries
Efficiently recover valuable metals (such as cobalt and nickel) from waste lithium-ion batteries through heat treatment technology, while treating pollutants at their source to achieve clean production.

5. High temperature and high pressure scientific research
Research on Material Behavior under Extreme Conditions
Simulate the conditions inside the Earth’s core or planet under high temperature and pressure, study the behavior of material phase transition, melting, and explore the laws of material changes under extreme conditions.
Crystal growth control
By adjusting the temperature gradient and growth environment, directional growth of single crystal or polycrystalline materials can be achieved, such as preparing semiconductor crystals or optical crystals.

6. Material characterization and analysis
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Measure the mass change of the sample in a vacuum atmosphere or a specific atmosphere, and study the thermal stability, decomposition process, and redox reaction of the material. For example, analyzing the thermal decomposition behavior of organic polymer materials under different atmospheres provides a basis for material modification.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis
Combined with TGA technology, measure the thermal changes of the sample during heating or cooling, study the thermal behavior such as phase transition, crystallization, and melting of the material, and optimize the preparation process.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY TEST
Testing materials for thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability at high temperatures provides key parameters for practical applications. For example, evaluating the thermal shock stability of ceramic materials at high temperatures to guide their engineering application design.