Precautions for using Hybrid Furnace

Precautions for using Hybrid Furnace

1. Preparation before operation
Equipment inspection
Confirm that the furnace structure is complete, without cracks or damage, especially the sealing between the furnace tubes of the tube furnace and the furnace chamber of the box furnace.
Check if the temperature control system (thermocouple, controller) is within the calibration period to ensure accurate temperature display.
Verify the sealing of the gas path system (tube furnace) and confirm no leaks through vacuum or pressure testing.
Check if the power cord and grounding device are intact to avoid the risk of leakage.
Environmental Requirements
The equipment should be placed in a well ventilated laboratory or workshop, away from flammable and explosive materials and corrosive gases.
The work area is equipped with local exhaust equipment to prevent the accumulation of harmful gases at high temperatures.
personal protection
Operators are required to wear protective clothing, insulated gloves, goggles, and gas masks (when dealing with toxic gases).
Do not wear metal jewelry to avoid high temperature burns or conductive risks.

2. Precautions during operation
temperature control
Heating rate: Set the heating program in sections, with a rate of ≤ 10 ℃/min for the low-temperature section (such as ≤ 1000 ℃) and ≤ 5 ℃/min for the high-temperature section (such as ≥ 1400 ℃), to avoid cracking of the furnace tube or furnace caused by thermal stress.
Overtemperature protection: Set the overtemperature alarm value (usually 10-20 ℃ below the rated temperature), and immediately stop heating and introduce cooling gas after triggering.
Uniformity: The sample should be placed in the constant temperature zone of the furnace to avoid local overheating.
atmosphere control
Tube furnace: Before introducing inert gases (such as N ₂, Ar) or reducing gases (such as H ₂), the air must be thoroughly purged to prevent oxidation or explosion. The use of hydrogen requires explosion-proof devices and gas concentration alarm devices.
Box furnace: If atmosphere protection is required, it needs to be achieved through an additional gas path system to avoid confusion with the gas path of a tube furnace.
Gas path operation: Open in the order of “gas cylinder main valve → pressure divider valve → pipeline switch”, and operate in reverse when closed; Adjust the flow rate until bubbles continuously and steadily emerge from the safety bottle.
Sample placement
Tube furnace: The sample is placed in a quartz/corundum crucible and placed in the center of the furnace tube to avoid direct contact with the heating element; Volatile or corrosive samples should be stored in sealed containers.
Box furnace: Large workpieces or multiple samples need to be evenly distributed to maintain smooth airflow; Metal samples require the use of specialized crucibles or high-temperature resistant vessels.
Prohibited items: Do not put acidic or alkaline chemicals, strong oxidants, or explosive hazardous materials.
real-time monitoring
A dedicated person is on duty to closely observe the temperature curve, pressure gauge, and furnace status. If any abnormalities are found, they should be immediately cooled down.
Record experimental parameters (such as heating rate, holding time, gas flow rate) for subsequent analysis.

3. Post operation processing
Cooling program
After the program is completed, wait for the furnace temperature to naturally cool to below 200 ℃ (tube furnace) or below 100 ℃ (box furnace) before turning on the furnace to prevent rapid cooling from causing furnace explosion.
If accelerated cooling is required, inert gas can be introduced, but the flow rate should be controlled to avoid sudden temperature changes.
Sampling and Cleaning
Use long crucible pliers to remove the sample and avoid high-temperature burns; The residue needs to be cleaned up in a timely manner to prevent chemical reactions from corroding the furnace tubes.
Clean the furnace once a week (or every five furnaces) and use a vacuum cleaner or compressed air to remove oxides.
Device shut down
Turn off the gas and power sources, and record experimental data; Long term disuse requires disconnecting the power supply and keeping the furnace dry.

4. Maintenance and upkeep
regular inspection
Verify thermocouples and temperature control instruments monthly to ensure temperature measurement accuracy; Check the resistance value of the heating element and replace aging components.
Clean the furnace and heating elements to avoid residue affecting performance.
Accessory Management
Use original or legitimate manufacturer accessories and refuse “flat replacement” products; Consumables such as furnace tubes and crucibles need to be replaced regularly.
When the resistance wire breaks, acetylene gas welding is used (the welding rod is a mixture of 50% white cloud powder), and if it is severely corroded, it should be replaced as a whole.
safety training
Operators need to hold certificates to work, receive regular safety training, and be familiar with emergency plans (such as fire and leak handling).

5. Emergency response
Overtemperature or malfunction: Immediately activate the emergency cooling plan, turn off the heating element, and introduce cooling gas.
Gas leakage: Turn off the gas source, evacuate personnel to a safe area, and use a detector to investigate the leakage point.
Personnel injury: High temperature burns require rinsing with cold water for at least 15 minutes and seeking medical attention.