Heat treatment changes metal properties by heating a material to a specific temperature, holding it at that temperature for a certain length of time, and then using one of several methods to control the cooling of the metal. A material’s properties are determined by the shape and alignment of its atoms which can be controlled during this process.
Annealing is a heat treatment process which alters the microstructure of a material to change its mechanical or electrical properties. Typically, in steels, annealing is used to reduce hardness, increase ductility and help eliminate internal stresses.
During heat treatment a number of issues can occur. These include but are not limited to
- Cross contamination of product through contact or proximity
- Contamination from any support structures due to high temperature leaching of elements or reactions between the materials.
- Change of shape due to prolonged heat cycle causing sagging of the product.
Kiln furniture is a generic term that can be used to describe products for support an item during a heat treatment and annealing process or firing cycle. The correct selection of ceramic material and the design of a support can prevent issues such as above and also help to increase yield by maximising the use of the available space in the furnace.
Anderman Industrial Ceramics offers a wide range of kiln furniture products e.g. firing plates and setter plates and material options, together with the design capability to achieve the correct product for use in many heat treatment and annealing applications including powder metals, steel alloys, precious metals, catalysts.
Materials are supplied in cordierite, high alumina, Mullite, zirconia, Quartz, NSIC (nitride bonded silicon carbide), SSIC ( reaction bonded silicon carbide) and RSIC (recrystallised silicon carbide).
