As Vacuum Furnace Suppliers, Thermic Edge, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of the industry. Providing a complete service, our bespoke versatile ranges give you the tools necessary for any application.
Thermic Edge are Vacuum Furnace Suppliers, and we offer a standard range of laboratory Vacuum Furnaces, heating in excess of 2000˚c, to research institutes and universities for thermal processing, annealing, vacuum sintering, and vacuum heat treatment in high purity, clean environment.
Our Semi-Automatic Furnaces allow the use of single or multiple gasses allowing processing from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum with either graphite or tungsten hot zones all controlled via a simple one-click HMI touchscreen display based on a small footprint, lightweight and moveable frame.
Thermic Edge laboratory vacuum furnaces offer a range of graphite hot zones to suit a variety of uses. Our standard medium vacuum heat treating furnace with a crucible size of Ø102 x 51mm has a maximum temperature of 2100˚c. We also offer an alternative deeper medium-hot zone size of Ø60.5 x 75mm, a larger size of Ø 150 x 75mm, and an extra-large hot zone size of Ø180 x 140mm. We also offer flat wafer hot zones for Ø 4”, Ø 6”, and Ø 8” sample sizes.
We also supply a range of Benchtop Furnaces for use in smaller laboratories for use on small sample testing, thermal processing, vacuum sintering, and heat treatment is extremely high purity and clean environment.
The Benchtop offers a small footprint, lightweight unit with simple one-touch control via HMI touchscreen display with integrated power supply, rotary pump, and manual flow control. Temperature control and data logging is performed via a Eurotherm Nanodac controller with an option for remote PC control and data analysis.
We also specialise in meeting the requirements of our customers with custom options for their system designed specifically for their needs and applications.
2000°c Medium Laboratory Vacuum Furnace with Graphite Hot Zone Crucible Furnace, 5kW DC PSU. Graphite Hot Zone – Ø60.5 x 75mm OR Ø102mm x 51mm
2000°c Large Laboratory Vacuum Furnace with Graphite Hot Zone Crucible Furnace, 15kW DC PSU. Graphite Hot Zone – Ø150 x 75mm
2000°c Extra Large Laboratory Vacuum Furnace with Graphite Hot Zone Crucible Furnace, 20kW DC PSU. Graphite Hot Zone – Ø80 x 140mm
2000°c Large Laboratory Vacuum Furnace with Graphite Hot Zone Crucible Furnace, 5kW DC PSU. Tungsten Hot Zone – Ø150 x 75mm
2000°c Extra Large Laboratory Vacuum Furnace with Graphite Hot Zone Crucible Furnace, 20kW DC PSU. Graphite Hot Zone – Ø80 x 140mm
4” Graphite Hot Zone, 5kW DC PSU
6” Graphite Hot Zone, 10kW DC PSU
8” Graphite Hot Zone, 15kW DC PSU
2000˚c Graphite Crucible Furnace 1.5kW DC PSU – Ø20 x 30mm, Ø30 x 40mm, Ø40 x 50mm
2000˚c Graphite Wafer Furnace 1.5kW DC PSU – 1”, 2” & 3”
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.
Thermic Edge Limited are committed to lead the industry in delivering innovative, high-quality high-temperature applications, backed by unparalleled customer service.
To be a beacon of innovation and excellence, inspiring positive change and leaving a lasting impact on our industry and the environment
