World leader in the design and manufacture of laboratory and industrial ovens and furnaces

CARBOLITE GERO is the UK’s largest manufacturer of electrically heated laboratory ovens and chamber and tube furnaces. Recognised as a world leader in the design and manufacture of laboratory and industrial ovens and furnaces, Carbolite Gero products are used in applications such as aerospace, technical and bio ceramics, metals, mining, electronics, composites and materials science. Sizes range from 3 litre standard products to 10,000 litre bespoke pilot production products with temperatures up to 3000°C.

Atmosphere Control

Amongst its many ranges of ovens, Carbolite Gero offers a specialist range of modified atmosphere high temperature ovens which use inert atmospheres.

Some processes need to be performed in a specific atmospheric environment which requires the furnace or oven to have a system for introducing gas into the work-tube or chamber, depending on the model. There are several factors to be considered which are discussed below:

If oxygen needs to be eliminated from a chamber furnace or oven, an inert gas such as nitrogen (N2) or argon (Ar) will be required to flow through the chamber initially at high flow rate to displace the air normally present and then reduce to a low flow rate to ensure the low air/O2 level is maintained.

If working at very high temperatures then Carbolite Gero can offer the alternative solution of a tube furnace design as this offers an alternative way to control the atmosphere around a work-piece. These are primarily only used at temperatures above 600-700°C. Alternatively a gas inlet and sealed metal retort can be fitted to a chamber furnace to achieve the same result.

Carbolite Gero atmosphere ovens

Carbolite Gero’s HTMA range of ovens is ideal for heating samples in an inert modified atmosphere to prevent surface oxidation, eg, electronics and materials research. The inert atmosphere removes O2 from the chamber, making the ovens suitable for drying and curing of products which give off small amounts of flammable vapours.

Features:

• standard maximum operating temperatures of 400, 500 and 600°C
• 700°C models available on request
• standard capacities of 28, 95 and 220 litres
• externally seam welded inner chamber to contain modified atmosphere
• pressure limiting valve ensures small positive pressure in chamber
• corrosion resistant stainless steel interior with perforated shelves and runners
• stainless steel pipe-work, nickel brass flow-meter and solenoid valves 
• excellent temperature uniformity

Benefits at a Glance:

• separate flow controls for purge and process gases mean once the chamber has been purged of atmospheric air, process gas can be used with lower flow rates;
• single side-hinged door can be easily and securely closed with non-slam lever handle
• oxygen levels down to 50ppm achievable
• robust construction for long life

Carbolite Gero HTMA range - modifications to solve customers’ particular heating requirements

The HTMA range of ovens is often modified to provide capacities greater than the standard range. All are fully seam welded to contain modified atmospheres and can have manual or automatic gas control. Some examples are:

HTMA 6/95 high temperature modified atmosphere oven with continuous sample weighing – modified to allow the weight of the sample placed inside to be constantly monitored

HTMA 5/4872 high temperature modified atmosphere oven for processing powders with low auto ignition temperature – the control system includes a comprehensive over-temperature system that monitors both chamber and element surface temperatures to ensure they remain below the maximum allowed, and includes a safety nitrogen quench.