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U.S. Department of Energy
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Development of a gas-fired vacuum furnace: an ion nitriding application, Phase 1. Final report, August 1986-March 1988

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7121042
In the project, a gas-fired vacuum furnace was designed, built and tested. The furnace design is based on a novel, patented heating concept that uses gas-fired burners. High velocity gases heat the surface of a round shell by impingement from the outside. The shell can be alternately heated and cooled, and is designed to sustain vacuum pressures. A novel vacuum door design maintains atmosphere integrity and allows use of a soft seal. Tests proved that the gas-fired vacuum furnace heats up very fast, allows very close temperature control, and can achieve exceptional temperature uniformity of furnace walls and furnace load. The furnace type is, therefore, ideally suited to find applications in an intermediary temperature range of about 500 to 1400/sup 0/F. The furnace is now being prepared to operate as an ion nitrider. Ion nitriding is a case-hardening process, operates in a temperature range between 750 and 1050/sup 0/F, and requires moderate vacuum.
Research Organization:
Indugas, Inc., Toledo, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
7121042
Report Number(s):
PB-88-230008/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English