Solar Manufacturing recently shipped a high-performance vacuum furnace to be used by a major aircraft engine manufacturer. The furnace, which incorporates super cooling and high-temperature capabilities, will be used for research in heat treating and further development of superalloys for new and existing applications in the aircraft engine industry. The front-loading furnace has a work zone that measures 18 inches wide x 14 inches high x 28 inches deep and a load capacity of 500 pounds.

The hot zone incorporates a combination of 0.075-inch-thick CFC graphite hot face backed by multiple layers of high-purity graphite felt, allowing for an operating temperature up to 2800°F. The curved graphite elements provide for rapid and uniform heating, and the vacuum system will allow for operation in the 10-5 Torr range or better.