With recent advances in technology, the vacuum furnace purchaser faces an array of new considerations when buying furnace equipment. Innovations in hot zone materials, control packages and quenching systems can offer many operating and performance improvements, but can also affect the price of the equipment. As both a heat treater and vacuum furnace manufacturer, VAC AERO can provide informed answers to cost/value questions affecting difficult purchase decisions.
Hot Zone Materials: Lightweight, curved graphite elements are becoming increasingly popular for vacuum furnaces. These elements have a lower thermal mass than old-style graphite rod or bar elements. Compared to molybdenum strip elements, the curved graphite element is more durable and has better resistance to operating hazards like accidental breakage or braze alloy spill. Graphite insulation materials also exhibit excellent performance in vacuum furnaces. Thousands of hours of operating service have confirmed that graphite felt insulation is suitable for almost all high vacuum applications, including brazing of advanced superalloys. Less expensive and easier to maintain than graphite board or all-metal shielding, felt insulation can be combined with a reflective carbon composite hot face to maximize hot zone life, even in high-pressure gas quench furnaces.