Heat treatment equipment refers to machinery used to carry out heat treatment processes. In a heat treatment workshop, there are also auxiliary devices that provide essential power sources such as fuel, electricity, water, and gas, as well as hoisting and transportation equipment, production safety devices, and environmental protection equipment. Typically, the equipment that directly completes heat treatment operations is called main equipment, while the devices that support production and maintain operation are called auxiliary equipment.
A heat treatment furnace is heating equipment that contains a furnace chamber. During heating, the chamber itself is heated first and then transfers heat to the workpiece, so the furnace’s heating is considered indirect heating.
Direct Heating Devices:
Direct heating devices transfer heat directly to the workpiece. Methods include:
- Flame directly applied to the workpiece
- Direct electrical current input to heat the workpiece
- Induced currents generated inside the workpiece (induction heating)
- Plasma, laser, or electron beam bombardment to heat the workpiece
Surface Modification Devices:
These devices are primarily used for improving the surface properties of materials and include:
- Vapor Deposition Devices:
These deposit metallic or compound coatings on the surface of a workpiece through physical or chemical processes in the gas phase. - Ion Implantation Devices:
Ions such as nitrogen or metals are implanted into the surface of the material. This process differs from traditional heat treatment, which strengthens metals through phase changes during heating and cooling. Ion implantation is a modern method for improving surface performance. - Surface Oxidation Devices:
These generate a dense oxide film on the surface of the workpiece through chemical reactions. They typically consist of a series of tanks, often referred to as bluing tanks or blackening tanks.