A vacuum sintering furnace performs protective sintering of materials under a vacuum environment. It supports various heating methods such as resistance heating, induction heating, and microwave heating.
Among them, vacuum induction furnaces use induction heating for protected sintering and are available in low-frequency, medium-frequency, and high-frequency types—making them a subcategory of vacuum sintering equipment.
Vacuum induction sintering furnaces use medium-frequency induction heating to sinter carbide tool tips, pressed metal powder bodies, ceramic materials, and metal dysprosium under vacuum or protective atmospheres.
1. Main Principle and Applications
The vacuum induction tungsten sintering furnace operates by first evacuating the chamber, then filling it with hydrogen as a protective atmosphere. Using medium-frequency induction heating, the tungsten crucible inside the induction coil reaches extremely high temperatures and transfers heat to the workpieces through thermal radiation.
It is suitable for research institutions and military industries for sintering refractory metals such as tungsten, molybdenum, and their alloy powder-formed parts.
2. Structure and Components
The furnace is commonly designed in a vertical configuration with bottom discharge. Its main components include:
- Furnace body
- Vacuum system
- Water-cooling system
- Pneumatic system
- Hydraulic system
- Loading/unloading mechanism
- Base and worktable
- Induction heating assembly (tungsten heating elements + high-grade insulation)
- Power feed-through system
- Medium-frequency power supply
- Electric control system
3. Key Functions
After evacuation and filling with hydrogen gas, the furnace controls both internal pressure and atmosphere during sintering.
Temperature can be continuously measured using an optical-fiber infrared thermometer or armored thermocouple (0–℃ range). The smart temperature controller compares real-time temperature with preset programs and sends feedback to the medium-frequency power supply, enabling automatic heating, temperature regulation, and heat-preservation control.