Continuous heating is provided by laboratory furnaces for the processing of materials and respective samples. To withstand high temperatures without degrading, they are often constructed of high-temperature (refractory) materials. To finish a processing set, these furnaces are frequently programmed to run for months at a time. When looking for lab furnaces, configuration, general specs, features of tube furnaces, atmosphere, and control are all crucial things to take into account.

Different Types of Laboratory Furnaces

Laboratory furnace configuration options include tube, tabletop furnace, bottom loading, box or muffle, and ashing furnace.

• 
  

  Charring, sometimes known as ashing, is the stage in a graphite furnace procedure that is intended to eliminate matrix components that could obstruct the analyte's measurement.

  
  


• 
  

  The furnace is fashioned like a box and its inside is also box-shaped, as the name suggests. Utilizing a box furnace is convenient for samples that are of specific size.

  
  


• 
  

  In bottom-loading furnaces, a platform elevator loads the sample or product to be treated via the chamber's bottom. 

  
  


• 
  

  The product to be treated enters tabletop furnaces through the top hence their name.

  
  


• 
  

  A tube that is typically 50 cm to 100 cm long and 25 mm to 100 mm in diameter is heated in a tube furnace. Using a long push rod, samples are inserted into ceramic or metal boats and placed inside the tube. Heating components surround the tube and may include a thermocouple (if required, a thermocouple can be placed down the tube).

  
  

Factors to Consider

Process temperature, tube or chamber length, height, and width are crucial dimensions to take into account while looking for laboratory furnaces.

• 
  

  The highest temperature at which the unit can function and still deliver rated performances is known as the process temperature. 

  
  


• 
  

  In the case of a few furnaces, the width refers to the outside diameter of the tube or the internal width dimension of the unit. 

  
  


• 
  

  The length is the unit's length dimension or the heated length in tube furnaces. 

  
  


• 
  

  The height is the unit's interior height dimension.

  
  

Features

Laboratory furnaces are commonly operated in vacuum, inert, oxidizing, reducing, or air. To control temperature and temperature stability, laboratory furnaces are often built in one of two heating modes: a programmable controller or a single set point. Arc, combustion, electrical or resistance, indirect, contact or conduction, induction, infrared or radiant, natural gas, propane, oil, other fuel, radiofrequency, microwave, or dielectric, and steam are some of the options for a heat source. Application software, computer interface, and over-temperature prevention are additional characteristics of laboratory furnaces.

Temperature and Size

It is a tool designed to do a wide range of tasks, which is why its feature set can be quite broad. When selecting the best lab chamber furnace, you should take the following factors into account.

• 
  

  Temperature: Changing the laboratory furnace's temperature when the right product is chosen is another crucial aspect to take into account. In addition to a thermostat with a straightforward on/off switch, three popular technologies can be utilized in a lab chamber furnace to control temperature.

  
  


• 
  

  Size: When choosing this lab furnace, size is a crucial factor. The furnace's volume must be appropriate to meet the space requirements of the samples that are being heated. Ideally, it should be able to hold several samples. Three sorts of sizes can be distinguished: walk-in, cabinet, and benchtop. Tabletop furnace are the smallest type, while walk-in furnaces are the largest.

  
  

In addition to this, the air intakes and exhausts that have humidity release and withholding adjustments must be taken into account depending on the needs of the application. To clear the furnace chamber of VOCs and fumes, they are also required.