A Controlled Atmosphere Furnace is a type of laboratory equipment primarily used by universities, research facilities, and laboratories. Specially prepared gases are introduced with the objective being to maintain a neutral atmosphere. The furnace can be adjusted so it controls the specific temperature and atmospheric pressure that the experiments require. They are tightly sealed which helps to maintain the proper environment.
Using the correct mixture of gases is important when implementing this piece of equipment. Ensuring the measurements are accurate is paramount to the success of the project. Quite often a separate chamber is used to mix the gases that are required. You will then pump that mixture into the furnace itself. This is where work on the project will be completed. The tight seal will ensure no outside air enters the chamber, which could throw off the gas mixture and negate the results of your research.
In addition to the accurate mixture of gases, the proper temperature is essential when doing your experiment. All Across International furnaces come with a built-in 28-segment PID digital temperature controller. This will ensure the temperatures are monitored accurately and consistently. If the temperatures are even slightly too high or too low, that could cause problems with your project and quite possibly will end up costing you money in the long run because you may have to start the entire process from the beginning.
When using a controlled atmosphere furnace, it is important to ensure there are safety functions in place. The furnace should have overheat protection. This is used to shut down the furnace if the temperature reaches limits that are outside of the acceptable range, which should be stated in the owner’s manual. It will also shut the equipment down in case the thermocouple breaks or malfunctions. There should also be power failure protection. In this instance, furnace operation will be resumed directly after the point of failure as soon as the power is reestablished.
If you work in a research facility and require controlled equipment for your experiments, a controlled atmosphere furnace may be the answer. It will give you a neutral atmosphere in which you can conduct your projects. This, in turn, will ensure success of your research.
