One Minute Mentor: Gas nitriding equipment

Gas nitriding and nitrocarburizing can be processed in horizontal or vertical chamber furnaces with refractory insulation. However, to allow a quick change of the atmosphere and to avoid influences resulting from previous processes in the same furnace, retort furnaces are preferred.

To enable an acceptable production capacity, large vertical retort furnaces are used. The figure is a schematic sketch of a vertical retort furnace with a compensator for sealing against the atmosphere. Nowadays large horizontal retort furnaces are also used. Horizontal retort furnaces of different size and execution are preferred for nitrocarburizing processes. Similar to the vertical execution, a good circulation of the process gas is needed to get uniform results, which can be reached by the use of a muffle and a high circulation rate. Indirect cooling is performed with an external cooling fan, blowing cold air along the retort. Other designs allow direct cooling of the process gas with an external heat exchanger.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 23

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; H. Altena; T. Müller; P. Seemann, Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Lindberg/MPH ships mesh belt conveyor furnace for use with powdered metal

Lindberg/MPH, Mich., has announced the shipment of an electrically heated, full muffle, mesh belt conveyor furnace. This furnace is designed for treating pressed powdered material.

The furnace is designed for applications with a maximum process temperature of 1000° C (1832° F) that utilize a nitrogen or clean dry filtered air process atmosphere. The unit is configured with 9 temperature control zones and includes a water-cooling section. The conveyor system features a 14 inch wide mesh belt with belt stop alarm to provide an audible and visual indication in case of a conveyor stoppage.

There are purge chambers at the entrance and exit of this conveyor furnace. In these chambers purge gas flows from perforated plenum chambers above and below the belt and exhaust stacks with adjustable butterfly valves are located at the inner ends of each chamber. Load and unload tables at the entrance and exit of the conveyor provide ease of product transfer for the operator.

The furnace zone temperatures are controlled by Eurotherm controllers. These controllers have advanced PID control with variable overshoot inhibition. A hi-limit Eurotherm controller guards against over temperature conditions in each zone of temperature control.  A visual and audible alert and removal of power to the heating element occur in the event the monitor temperature exceeds a desired set point. 

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Seco/Warwick to supply a vacuum furnace specifically designed for the MRO industry

Seco/Warwick, Meadville, Pa., will supply a vacuum furnace specifically for the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) industry. The solution will be utilized for repair solutions for both complex aircraft engines and gas turbines for the energy industry in Hungary.

The furnace on order is a unique solution due to the effective size of the heating chamber. It has been adapted to the AeroSpace Power requirements and has a working area of 1300 x 1000 x 1500 mm. Thanks to this, the furnace can accommodate large components – mainly aircraft parts, as well as gas turbines for the energy sector.

The featured technology on order, in addition to non-standard dimensions, is designed to process work in the presence of two gases: argon (used for partial pressure) and nitrogen, which is used mainly in the cooling process.

Additionally, the furnace will be equipped with a dew point sensor for each of the gases. It is a system which solves one of heat treatment’s very critical operational requirements, which is to control the quality/purity of gas used during the process. Vector also features a partial pressure control system based on three gases (hydrogen, argon, and nitrogen) to help prevent evaporation and sublimation of alloying elements from the load surface during the vacuum heat treatment or vacuum brazing process.

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Constellium joins EPA’s Energy Star program as an industrial partner

Constellium, Paris,  announced that they are participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star program as an Industrial Partner.

The Energy Star program is a voluntary initiative that helps businesses protect the environment by promoting energy-efficient products, homes, buildings and manufacturing plants, as well as save on energy costs. As an Industrial Partner, Constellium will work closely with the EPA to identify and implement energy-saving strategies and technologies across its manufacturing operations in the United States.

Constellium has already taken significant steps to reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The company has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 vs 2021, and reports its results annually in its sustainability report. 

https://www.constellium.com/news/constellium-joins-epas-energy-star-r-program-as-an-industrial-partner

One Minute Mentor: Salt Bath Nitrocarburizing

Salt bath nitrocarburizing is usually performed at temperatures between 560 and 580 °C (1040 to 1075 °F) in cyanate- and carbonate-containing salts with traces of cyanides and furnaces similar to those used for the nitrocarburizing of mechanical compounds. These conditions fit well with the usual tempering temperatures of hot-work tool steels, which form the main field of application of salt bath nitrocarburizing in tooling with treatment times of 15 min to 2 h.

 To guarantee a good reproducible nitriding performance, the cyanate content must be kept at approximately 35% to achieve a full ε-nitride compound layer, which today is usually done by adding a regenerator. The advantages of salt bath nitrocarburizing can be found in the very homogeneous temperature distribution, the fast formation of thick compound layers that give good tribological and corrosion properties, its high flexibility, and he fact that it does not require that any special attention be given to passivation effects. Extrusion dies are regularly treated several times during use to restore the nitride layer at areas of heavy wear.

More recently special salt compositions were developed for lower nitrocarburizing temperatures, which are essential for cold-work tool steels that do have lower tempering temperatures.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 21

R Schneider ; R. Mesquita ; H. Altena ; T. Müller ; P. Seemann,Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Can-Eng Furnaces contracted for continuous quench and temper furnace system

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara, Ontario, was recently contracted to engineer and commission a continuous quench and temper furnace system for a North American producer of mining, construction, and materials handling products. The purchase of this equipment is part of a larger plant expansion and initiative to bring foreign outsourced manufacturing in house.  

This move is not only to improve part quality but also to help eliminate overall shipping costs and reduce supply chain issues which have been plaguing many industries over the past couple of years. This equipment will be part of an automated manufacturing cell and fed automatically from upstream handling equipment. Special considerations have been made to precisely control the quench temperature to reduce hardness variations and improve overall part quality.  

The multizone belt style temper furnace employs high efficiency natural gas fired heating and recirculation systems which have been proven to provide the ultimate in temperature uniformity in even the most demanding of applications.  

 

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Ipsen installs vacuum furnace at Taiwan Hodaka Technology

Ipsen, Tainan City, Taiwan, has announced the installation of a TurboTreater vacuum furnace for a customer in Southeast Asia. Established in 2002, Taiwan Hodaka Technology Co., Ltd. is an aluminum extrusion supplier, specializing in high-end aerospace aluminum alloys. 

They also produce products used in the sporting goods, consumer electronics and automotive industries. The TurboTreater boasts a work zone size of 36” (914 mm) x 36” (914 mm) x 48” (1219mm) with a weight capacity of 3000 lb (1360 kg) and normal operating temperature up to 2400 °F (1315 °C). The furnace was designed with convection heating, allowing for more uniform processing of large cross-section parts and dense loads. It is also capable of quenching at up to 12 bar positive pressure in nitrogen.

Hodaka chose Ipsen for their positive brand reputation, technical capabilities and process know-how.

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Solar Atmospheres of Western PA treats a record load of titanium

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, Hermitage, vacuum degassed a record 175,000 pounds of 6Al-4V titanium in their 48-foot-long vacuum furnace. The furnace load consisted of 154 sheets of titanium 40” wide X 240” long. It represented the largest and heaviest single load of titanium ever processed in Solar’s history.

Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA states, “The future of the global aerospace titanium market is very promising with the many opportunities in the commercial and military aircraft markets!”

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Kanthal and Rath announce strategic partnership to expand sustainable industrial heating technology offerings

Kanthal and Rath, Amherst, NY, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding their combined offering in industrial heating technology. This collaboration is set to benefit industries such as steel and petrochemical as they strive to transition to greener practices.

By joining forces, Kanthal and Rath will create the most extensive range of sustainable industrial heating solutions available in the market. Kanthal’s expertise in heating elements and systems, combined with Rath’s premium insulation and refractory products, will provide customers with a unique and comprehensive offering to meet their industrial heating needs.

Robert Stål, president of Kanthal, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Rath to further expand our offerings in industrial heating technology, enabling societies and industries to make the green shift. In this era of electrification, this partnership will provide our customers with a broader range of innovative solutions that will enable them to optimize their operations and achieve their sustainability goals. Together, we can leverage our collective expertise to deliver greater value to our customers and help them thrive in a rapidly evolving market.”

Andreas Pfneiszl, CFO/CSO of Rath, emphasized their focus on sustainability, particularly in developing energy-saving refractory products and materials for electrically heated furnaces. He stated, “With our strategic partner Kanthal, we will enable customers’ shift towards fossil-fuel-free production.” This partnership aligns with Rath’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices.

Through closer collaboration in developing new technologies and solutions, Kanthal and Rath will leverage their expertise to drive the technology shift that industries like steel and petrochemical are currently undergoing. The joint go-to-market model will provide customers with a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, offering enhanced value and convenience.

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One Minute Mentor: Vacuum Furnaces

The demands on vacuum-hardening technology have changed in recent decades. One of the most important considerations that must be met is the accomplishment of highest dimensional stability with optimal microstructural properties and minimal change of the surface of the workpieces. 

Minimizing exposure to air during the heat treatment by reducing the quantity of oxygen in a heat treatment furnace, as with creating a vacuum, is an excellent method for preventing changes in surface appearance and chemical composition.

Suppliers of modern vacuum furnaces are further faced with new demands, such as increasing quenching speed to improve microstructural and mechanical properties by reducing grain size, and enhancing hardness and toughness and/or reducing distortion due to the hardening process. Furthermore, quality standards such as AMS 2750d or North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), which describe temperature homogeneity or quenching speeds and resulting and needed workpiece properties, had a significant effect on furnace design and process control.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 14

R Schneider ; R. Mesquita ; H. Altena ; T. Müller ; P. Seemann,Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958