Improving Atmosphere Control in Vacuum Furnaces

Enhancing Controllability and Stability of Vacuum Processes

Demanding heat treatments, especially in aerospace and automotive, are mostly carried out in vacuum furnaces. These are typically batch processes, utilizing state-of-the-art pressure vessel and vacuum pump technology to control the furnace atmosphere. Vacuum processes include brazing, hardening with high-pressure gas quenching, low-pressure carburizing, low-pressure nitriding and powder metal sintering. Key to the success of these vacuum processes is a steady, reliable supply of high-purity gases at the specified pressure and flow rate.

For example, vacuum hardening with high-pressure gas quenching entails filling the chamber for a short time with argon or nitrogen at a high volume and pressure. Linde can support you with gas supply solutions tailored to your individual process requirements.

Low-pressure carburizing (LPC) and low-pressure nitriding (LPN) are increasingly being adopted. For LPC, we offer high-quality and safe acetylene solutions, along with other process gases. In the case of LPN, a reliable supply of high-purity ammonia is key for high-quality products. Here also, we can deliver a supply system to meet your needs. Other typical gas applications include vacuum brazing and powder metal sintering. We have a proven track record of hydrogen supply solutions for installations such as these.