5 Essential Features of a Laboratory Furnace
Laboratory furnaces are used for a wide range of applications where an item needs to be heated within a furnace chamber. Laboratory furnaces are used frequently across the manufacturing and science industries for drying, baking and curing. However, furnaces can be built to suit a variety of applications and therefore their features may vary across models. In this blog post we will be discussing the 5 essential features of a laboratory furnace you need to consider before making a purchase.
As previously mentioned, laboratory furnaces can be manufactured depending on their applications or the needs of the scientists. It is therefore important that you are aware of what features are essential to your production and choose the laboratory furnace that will most suit your needs. Whether you need a furnace to reach the highest temperatures or hold numerous samples at once, here are the 5 essential features for you to think about when buying a laboratory furnace.
Aesthetics
This feature might not be the most important to every scientist, but it is still something that is worth considering. Aesthetic factors could be whether the color of the furnace suits the laboratory or the other equipment in the lab, but also if it’s in the material you want.
Atmosphere
The furnace atmosphere relates to the gas which is filled and heated within the laboratory furnace. There are a number of gasses that are frequently used in heat treatment and they include argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, nitrogen and oxygen.
Controls and Interface
Depending on what applications the laboratory furnace is being used for, you need to consider the type of controls available and whether they will suit your needs. Some of the control types available could be:
- Single set temperature controller that is preset
- Programmable controlled heating and cooling
- Temperature regulator for monitoring heat
Different controls will enable you to manage temperature manually, electronically or remotely, as well as to predetermine shut-off time or temperatures.
Size
The size of a laboratory furnace is important for a number of reasons. The key factor to consider is how much space is available in your laboratory. Secondly, what size samples does the furnace need to be able to hold, or how many samples need to be heated at once. These factors will all influence what size laboratory furnace you need to purchase.
Typically, there are three sizes available when purchasing a furnace and they are benchtop, cabinet and walk-in.
Temperature
It is absolutely essential to consider the temperature range of a laboratory furnace because this will impact your processes and outcome of your products. Three temperature ranges are available for heat furnaces and they are:
- Heating up to 1300oC: This range uses a wire heating element technology and can heat up to 1300oC.
- Heating up to 1500oC: Silicon Carbide elements can be heated up to 1500oC.
- Heating up to 1750oC: This final range uses a molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) heating element to reach temperatures of up to 1750oC.
Looking for Lab Furnaces?
Deltech have been manufacturing laboratory furnaces for over 50 years, so our team of experts are more than capable of designing and developing the ideal furnace system to meet your needs. We can work towards unique applications and offer unlimited personal support both during and after the purchase.
If you’re ready to discuss any of our products, or would like to request a quote, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
