High temperature tube furnace sintering experiment for small-scale experiments

A small experimental high-temperature tube furnace can efficiently complete sintering experiments. Through precise temperature control, atmosphere adjustment, and flexible operation, it can meet the sintering needs of ceramics, metals, composite materials, and optimize material properties. The following is a specific analysis:

1. The core objective of sintering experiment
Sintering is the process of transforming powdered materials into dense bodies, and through high-temperature treatment, metallurgical bonding occurs between powder particles to improve material strength and density. The key parameters of the experiment include:
Temperature range: It is necessary to reach a high temperature below the melting point of the material (such as 1200-1600 ℃ for ceramic sintering) to promote particle diffusion and densification.
Atmosphere control: Inert gas (such as argon) protection is required to prevent oxidation, or specific gases (such as hydrogen) participate in the reduction reaction.
Temperature uniformity: The temperature difference in the constant temperature zone should be ≤± 5 ℃ to ensure uniform heating of the sample and avoid local overburning or undercorning.
Operational flexibility: Supports complex processes such as programmed heating, segmented insulation, and rapid cooling to simulate sintering curves in actual production.

2. Adaptability of Small High Temperature Tube Furnace
Temperature control capability
The maximum temperature of a typical tube furnace can reach 1200-1700 ℃, with a temperature control accuracy of ± 1 ℃, which can accurately meet the sintering temperature requirements. For example, when sintering alumina ceramics at 1600 ℃, the tube furnace can stably maintain the target temperature and avoid uneven performance caused by temperature differences.
Equipped with an intelligent PID programmable temperature control system, multiple temperature curves can be set to achieve automated control of heating, insulation, and cooling, reducing manual operation errors.
Atmosphere flexibility
Equipped with a vacuum system (maximum vacuum degree ≤ 5 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa) and a gas flow control device (accuracy ± 1sccm), supporting inert gases (argon, nitrogen), reducing gases (hydrogen) or mixed atmospheres. For example, when sintering metal powder, argon gas is introduced to protect it from oxidation; When sintering copper based oxide superconducting materials, oxygen is introduced to control the oxygen partial pressure to ensure the composition and structure of the product.
During the vacuum and atmosphere switching process, the system can ensure the stability of the furnace environment and avoid the influence of atmosphere fluctuations on experimental results.
Temperature uniformity and operational convenience
The furnace is made of high-purity alumina polycrystalline fiber or ceramic fiber material, which has good insulation performance and vacuum sealing, and can withstand high temperature and vacuum environment. The length of the constant temperature zone can be customized according to experimental requirements (such as 200-1000mm), and the temperature uniformity is ≤± 3 ℃.
The furnace body adopts an openable structural design, which is convenient for cleaning furnace tubes and observing the heating status of materials. For example, during the sintering process, the color change of the sample can be observed in real time to determine the sintering progress.
Equipped with a touch screen operation interface, users can intuitively set parameters such as heating rate, insulation time, cooling method, etc., and view temperature curves and experimental data in real time.
Security and Extension Features
It has multiple safety functions such as overcurrent protection, overheating protection, and automatic power-off to prevent experimental accidents. For example, when the temperature inside the furnace exceeds the set value, the system will automatically cut off the power and sound an alarm.
Quick cooling devices (such as water-cooled sleeves) or independent heating zone designs can be optionally selected to meet special process requirements. For example, in experiments where rapid cooling is required after sintering to prevent grain growth, water-cooled sleeves can significantly shorten the cooling time.

3. Experimental scenario verification
Ceramic material sintering
Case: Sintering alumina ceramic substrate to improve its density and electrical properties.
Operation: Under argon protection, heat up to 1600 ℃ at a rate of 10 ℃/min, hold for 4 hours, and then cool down with the furnace.
Result: The substrate density increased to over 99%, and the resistivity decreased to the order of 10 Ω· cm, meeting the material performance requirements of electronic devices.
Metal material sintering
Case: Sintering stainless steel powder to prepare high-density metal parts.
Operation: Heat up to 1300 ℃ at a rate of 5 ℃/min in a vacuum state, hold for 2 hours, and then quench with water.
Result: The density of the parts reached 7.8g/cm ³ or above, and the hardness increased to HRC40 or above, demonstrating excellent mechanical properties.
Composite material sintering
Case: Sintering silicon carbide fiber-reinforced aluminum based composite materials to improve their strength and wear resistance.
Operation: Under argon protection, first rapidly heat up to 800 ℃ at a rate of 50 ℃/s for pre sintering, and then heat up to 1200 ℃ at a rate of 10 ℃/min for final sintering.
Result: The bending strength of the composite material has been increased to over 500MPa, and the wear resistance has been significantly improved, making it suitable for the aerospace industry.