1700°C 1800°C BLF Bottom Loading Furnaces

There are three models at both 1700°C and 1800°C, with capacities of 3.4, 7.9 and 21 litres. The smallest version is a bench mounted unit, whereas the two larger units are floor standing models.

This range of furnaces offers several advantages and is suitable for firing and sintering of advanced ceramics and high temperature glass melting. Excellent temperature uniformity is obtained by the inclusion of molydenum disilicide heating elements which are positioned around the walls of the chamber ensuring uniform heating of the sample. A combination of dense refractory brick hot face insulation and a secondary low thermal mass layer of insulation provides a robust chamber with an efficient utilisation of power.

The electrically operated elevator hearth ensures operator safety and prevents direct radiation of heat from the chambr walls. It also ensures smooth loading and unloading of the workpiece/crucible and allows both heavy and delicate loads to be handled easily. The loading platform has a full travel which allows the complete chamber height to be used.

Fast heating and cooling of the sample is obtained by having the ability to move the sample in and out of the furnace when hot or cold.

The furnace can be adapted to accomodate an atmosphere other than air. This is possible by placing a large inverted alumina crucible in a groove in the hearth. It is possible to partly fill this groove with alumina (Al

2O3) or Zirconia (ZrO2) powder to improve the sealing. Gas inlet and outlet connections allow atmospheres to be introduced from below the hearth and spread by radial channels cut into the surface of the hearth so that the inlet cannot be blocked by the sample positioned on the hearth. The top of the furnace can be adapted to include the facility to insert a probe thermocouple or provide access for stirrer. Versions with rotating hearths are also available.

A choice of programmable controllers is available together with other advanced temperature control options, including computer communications. An independent overtemperature control is fitted as standard and can either be set to protect the furnace or adjusted to a lower temperature to protect a valuable load.

Options include flowmeters, crucible clamps, radiation shutters, crucibles and hearth cages.