What should be noted when using a special ceramic sintering furnace
source:
www.szmtly.cn | publish time:2026年02月25日
Special ceramics (such as alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, etc.) have high requirements for temperature, atmosphere, heating, cooling, sealing, and furnace cleaning.
1、 Heating stage (most prone to cracking and furnace explosion)
1. The low-temperature section must be burned slowly
Room temperature~300 ℃: For rubber dispensing and dehydration, the heating rate should be slow (1-3 ℃/min).
Insufficient glue removal can lead to cracking, bubbling, deformation, and furnace contamination of the billet.
2. It is strictly prohibited to quickly cross the phase transition temperature
Zirconia and other materials undergo phase transition at around 1170 ℃, and can easily explode if heated too quickly.
3. Heat up according to the material curve
Different ceramic sintering windows are different and cannot be applied arbitrarily.
2、 Atmosphere control (determining ceramic density and color)
1. Zirconia and alumina: generally in an air atmosphere.
2. Silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and metal ceramics: require nitrogen, argon, and vacuum protection.
3. Attention:
Before ventilation, check the pipelines, valves, and pressure gauges to prevent air leakage.
The vacuum furnace needs to be evacuated before inflation to prevent oxidation.
3、 High temperature insulation stage
Strictly follow the insulation time according to the process. If it is too long, the grain size will become coarse and the performance will decrease; Too short to have sufficient density.
Observe at any time: temperature fluctuations, current, voltage, atmosphere pressure.
Do not open the door or touch the furnace body during high temperatures.
4、 Cooling stage (highly prone to cracking)
The high-temperature section must be cooled slowly along with the furnace, and the door cannot be forcibly opened to cool down.
Generally, the furnace door can only be opened when the temperature drops below 200 ℃.
Special ceramics have poor thermal conductivity and will crack upon sudden cooling.
5、 Furnace loading and furnace safety
The billet cannot touch the heating element, cannot be stacked too high, and cannot be too squeezed.
The burning plate and cushion plate should be flat to avoid uneven stress and cracking.
No debris, dust, or oil stains are allowed inside the furnace, as they may contaminate the products.
Regularly clean the furnace and replace seals.
6、 Equipment safety (must see)
Check before startup: water and electricity, air circuit, thermocouple, temperature controller, fuse.
The shell of the high-temperature furnace is very hot, do not touch it.
Pay attention to explosion prevention and suffocation prevention in the atmosphere furnace, and maintain ventilation.
Abnormalities occur: abnormal noise, tripping, temperature loss of control → stop heating immediately.
7、 Daily maintenance
Thermocouples are calibrated regularly.
Regularly inspect and replace heating elements and furnace door gaskets.
Regular maintenance of vacuum pumps and atmosphere flow meters.
Do not use over temperature or over power.