Atmosphere Furnaces

Refractories For Atmosphere Furnaces Many of the metal oxides found

in traditional refractories will reduce and reoxidize in hydrogen
atmosphere furnaces, so it is important to understand this reaction
when specifying furnace refractory and kiln furniture. This reaction can
lead to premature refractory repairs, inconsistent furnace operation and
poor production yields. To avoid these costly and time consuming
problems, it is important to select the correct refractories.
Saint-Gobain Ceramics (SGC) has been designing and manufacturing
high performance refractories for demanding atmosphere furnaces
for over 50 years. Our team of application engineers, material scientists
and design engineers understands the conditions in atmosphere
furnaces and can help you choose the correct material for your
application.
HIGH Temperature Atmosphere Furnaces Furnace Refractory

Alundum® 99 furnace refractory (muffles, brick and hearth plates) should

be specified in hydrogen atmosphere furnaces that operate from 2200 -
3400ºF (1205 - 1870ºC). This refractory will minimize or eliminate the
contamination and degradation that results from the reduction and re-
oxidation of silica, soda and potassia found in many refractory shapes.
Our 199, 299 and 599 alumina mixes are stable in the driest, high
temperature furnaces because they are produced with limited amounts of
these impurities. Alundum 599, a bubble alumina mix, has less than 0.05%
silica, and 0.05% soda and potassia. Our high strength dense alumina
mixes, 199 and 299, typically have less than 0.07% silica and 0.25% soda
and potassia. To put these numbers into perspective, 1000 "almost pure"
brick with as little as 0.5% silica can generate 25 lbs (11Kg) of unwanted
deposits in a furnace. These deposits can adversely affect the life of
your refractory lining and can negatively impact your production yields.
Our Alundum 99 furnace refractory systems provide long lasting, durable,
stable linings in hydrogen atmosphere furnaces that are used to sinter
powered metal (P/M) and metal injection molded (MIM) parts,
polycrystalline alumina tubes, uranium oxide fuel pellets and in furnaces,
bright annealing stainless steel. Alundum and Zirnorite®‚ (calcia stabilized
zirconia) refractory are also used in furnaces that anneal and sinter specialty
metals like tungsten and molybdenum.

Uses:
Muffles

Alundum 299 high purity alumina muffles

are used to control firing conditions and to
provide a stable, wear resistant support
medium for resistance heated atmosphere
pusher furnaces at temperatures up to
3400ºF (1870ºC). The molybdenum wire
typically used in these electrically heated
furnaces is held in place and protected with our high purity Alundum
EA139 embedding cement. The muffles are designed to accommodate
pusher plates ≤12" (305mm) wide and are produced in sections up to 48"
(1219mm) long.

Brick

Alundum 599 makes an exceptionally

stable bubble brick that can be safely
used as part of a furnace lining up to
3168ºF (1760ºC). Alundum 199 and
299 can be used to produce brick
shapes that support heavy loads in
furnaces up to 3400ºF (1870ºC). We
also produce insulating and dense
zirconia brick for furnaces that operate up to 4000ºF (2200ºC). We produce
these mixes in many brick shapes, including most industry standards.

Hearth Plates

Alundum 199 and 299 hearth plates

provide a long lasting, wear resistant
push surface at temperatures up to
3400ºF (1870ºC). These mixes have
excellent creep and sag resistance, but
to maximize their life it is important to
ensure they are properly supported. The
length of the 199/299 hearth plates
should be minimized because of the limited thermal shock resistance of
high purity alumina.

LOW Temperature Atmosphere Furnaces

Furnace Refractory

Most traditional kaolin-based, silicarich, refractory brick and fiber can

be used to insulate low temperature (2050ºF, 1120ºC) atmosphere
(hydrogen- nitrogen) belt furnaces because these furnaces generally operate
in atmospheres and at temperatures and dew points where silica is stable.
These furnaces, which are used to sinter, braze and normalize P/M parts,
typically incorporate silicon carbide (SiC) based structural furnace refractory
because it has excellent creep resistance, wear resistance, and thermal
conductivity.

Beams

Crystar® 2000, Silit®SK, and Hexoloy® SiC

beams can be used as structural supports for
ceramic and alloy muffles in belt furnaces.
At up to 10 times the strength of traditional
silicon carbide plates, SiC beams provide a
lightweight, strong alternative. Silicon carbide
beams are produced in sections as small as 0.5 x
0.5" (12.7 x 12.7mm) and as long as 120"
(3048mm).

Muffles

Crystolon®163 silicon-oxynitridebonded
SiC and Alundum 191A alumina- mullite
muffle sections are used in atmosphere belt
furnaces that sinter traditional P/M parts.
Our ceramic muffle sections have replaced
alloy muffles in many belt furnaces because of
their creep and wear resistance. Ceramic muffle
sections can reduce the costs associated with
the replacement of standard alloy muffles.These sections are produced to
accommodate belts up to 36" (915mm) wide.

Plates

Carbofrax® A, Crystolon 163, and

Cryston® 183 or 159 SiC plates are
used to provide 100% support for
ceramic and alloy muffle sections.
SiC plates can be produced in a
variety of standard sizes.