There are a variety of uses for laboratory ovens, particularly in terms of thermal processing applications such as laboratory work, component and stability testing, drying, and glassware sterilization. A laboratory furnace is a lower temperature thermal processing unit which is typically 1400 degrees or below. It also does not have refractory insulation.
An alternative name for the oven is oven. With a very high temperature, the kiln is used to burn ceramics and heat minerals. When firing pottery, the kiln is set to a very high temperature, usually 2300 F or higher. However, the kiln operates at a lower temperature when used to dry wood products. Laboratory furnaces are also used for common industrial processes as well as other applications such as aging, baking, curing, preheating, firing, drying, melting, hot pressing, tempering, sintering, brazing, sterilizing, and others.
The temperature range is the highest specification for a laboratory oven. The temperature range is the maximum temperature for the laboratory oven to operate and still maintain its performance rating. The volume of the internal space of the unit, when heated, is also a standard that must be taken into account. Another important consideration when identifying specific furnace types is the pressure range.
These products can be in any of several configurations including cabinet, conveyor; muzzle; walkable and vertical. A cabinet or benchtop oven is a small classification of equipment that is installed on integral supports. Cabinet ovens are commonly used to process quantities of products in a batch. On the other hand, a conveyor or continuous unit tends to lean towards automated production of larger numbers of items that are small to medium sizes. In a conveyor oven, the type of system used depends on the volume of work to be produced, the achievable temperature and the product line.
For its part, the muffle or tube furnace uses indirect heating, in which the material to be heated is stored in an externally heated refractory container. The muffle furnace uses a vertical, space-saving configuration. Compared to a horizontal setup, the vertical type generally has a higher clearance requirement. The vertical configuration, however, does not mean the direction of the airflow. Also known as a truck drive oven, a drive-in oven is a larger batch piece of equipment, typically made of two doors, as well as integral racks and carts. A walkable kiln is used to process large amounts of product in one batch.
Two other important specifications for laboratory furnaces are control and heating. Controls can come in programmable or single set point configuration. A programmable laboratory oven can be set to reach various temperatures at various time intervals, whereas a single set point oven has a specific set point temperature to reach once activated. Another important specification, which is the heat source, can be of several common types such as arc, induction, combustion, contact, resistance, indirect, natural gas, infrared, rf, propane, steam, microwave, or oil.
Also, another equally important consideration when it comes to a furnace specification is the atmosphere. There are several common types of atmospheres. These include air, inerts, salt bath, and reducing agents.
Other common features that comprise laboratory ovens are air filtration, alarms, explosion proof construction, register options, shelving, and refrigeration systems.
Like any other thermal processing unit, care and caution must be taken when operating laboratory furnaces to prevent accidents from occurring. It is important to first be informed of what to do and what not to do when using a laboratory oven.
