Vacuum Furnaces

A vacuum furnace is a highly specialised piece of equipment used to heat materials, typically metals, in a controlled vacuum environment. The vacuum reduces the presence of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, which can react with the materials during the heating process. By heating the materials in a vacuum, the furnace minimises contamination and allows for precise temperature control, resulting in superior quality in processes like brazing, annealing, and sintering.

Vacuum furnaces are primarily used in industries requiring precise heat treatment, such as brazing, sintering, annealing, and general heat treatment of metals. They are can also be used for processing wafers for Silicon and Sapphire. These processes are essential in fields like Semiconductor, aerospace, automotive, and tool manufacturing, where material integrity is crucial.

The heating elements in vacuum furnaces are typically made from materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and the vacuum environment. Common materials include graphite, molybdenum, and tungsten. Graphite is often favoured for its high thermal conductivity and stability at elevated temperatures, while molybdenum and tungsten are used where higher temperatures or stronger mechanical properties are required. Thermic Edge also use silicon carbide elements for furnaces that require harsh oxidising environments found in ALD and Thin Film Deposition.

Vacuum furnaces can operate in a vacuum or with controlled atmospheres, such as inert gases like argon or nitrogen, to prevent oxidation. In some cases, reducing atmospheres, containing gases like hydrogen and chlorine, are used to clean metal surfaces. Oxidation furnaces as also possible with using silicon carbide coated graphite which forms a protective silicon oxide layer over silicon carbide and graphite.

Vacuum furnaces are available in different types, each designed for specific applications. Graphite furnaces are ideal for high-temperature processes up to 3000°C, commonly used in laboratories for sintering and heat treatment of materials like ceramics and metals. These furnaces offer excellent temperature uniformity and can process samples in various sizes, including crucibles and wafers. The high temperature also makes it perfect for graphitisation which is the process of producing crystalline carbon from amorphous carbon.

Benchtop furnaces are compact and versatile, suitable for smaller-scale operations or research labs. They provide high precision and control, often used for tasks like annealing and brazing, where space and precise conditions are critical. Both types offer customisation options to meet specific operational needs.