3000°C Graphitization Furnace for Advanced Carbon Materials
Client Objective
A leading research institute specializing in carbon materials required an ultra-high temperature (UHT) furnace capable of operating at temperatures up to 3000°C. The system had to support graphitization, purification, and sintering of a wide range of carbon-based materials—including carbon fibers, petroleum coke, synthetic graphite, and battery-grade anode materials—within a controlled vacuum or inert gas atmosphere. Precision, safety, and scalability were critical parameters.
Our Solution: A First-of-its-Kind Pressure Cycling System
Ants Innovations engineered and delivered the CX-GF20/30VT, a vertical, top-loading ultra-high temperature induction furnace with an integrated ecosystem—including power electronics, vacuum system, water cooling tower, and digital controls—housed in a compact and service-friendly footprint. Built for both industrial-scale graphitization and high-end R&D, the furnace supports programmable temperature control, safe operation under extreme conditions, and sustained high-temperature processing with excellent temperature uniformity.
Temperature Performance
- Design Max Temperature: 3000°C
- Continuous Working Temp: 2900°C
- Uniformity: ±5°C throughout the 10-liter heating zone
- Cooling Time: ≤12 hours (from 3000°C to 300°C)
Furnace Configuration
- Chamber Dimensions: Ø200 mm × 300 mm (H)
- Heating Volume: ~10 liters
- Induction Heating: T2 copper coil inductor with fine graphite crucible
- Insulation: Multi-layer graphite felt for thermal efficiency
Advanced Temperature Control
- Sensors: Raytek M13 + Fluke Endurance IR pyrometers
- Controller: PID with 20 program profiles (400 segments)
- HMI: Delta touch screen with Siemens PLC backend
- Safety: Over-temperature, pressure, and flow rate alarms with emergency shutdown
Process Environment
- Atmosphere: Vacuum (20 Pa via rotary vane pump) or inert (Ar, N₂)
- Pressure Rise Rate: 6.7 × 10⁻² mbar/hr
- Chamber Design: Double-layer water-jacketed SS304 shell with explosion-proof valves
- Gas Handling: Integrated argon gas purifier
Cooling Infrastructure
- Cooling System: Closed-loop water cooling with real-time flow monitoring
Engineering Excellence
- Precision Control:
Seamless integration of optical temperature feedback with programmable PID enables highly accurate thermal profiling—critical for reproducibility in material development.
- Energy Efficiency:
High-reflectivity graphite felt insulation minimizes heat loss while maintaining temperature stability, reducing energy consumption at extreme operating conditions.
Built-in Safety
- Explosion-proof valves, vacuum-tight chamber seals, over-temperature protection, and fully automated interlock systems ensure safe operations even during long-duration heating cycles.
Compact, Integrated Design
- All subsystems—including power cabinet, vacuum system, chiller, and control panel—are housed in a space-efficient configuration optimized for industrial labs and pilot production setups.
Graphitization of Carbon Precursors
Converts amorphous carbon into highly crystalline graphite, critical for the production of electrodes, crucibles, and refractory components.
Carbon Fiber Final Treatment
Ensures enhanced tensile strength and electrical conductivity during the final heat treatment stage of carbon fiber manufacturing.
High-Purity Graphite Fabrication
Enables precise processing of semiconductor-grade graphite parts such as susceptors, heaters, and nozzles.
Advanced Ceramics & Sintering
Supports ultra-high temperature sintering of borides, carbides, and nitrides required in aerospace, defense, and nuclear applications.
Materials R&D
Provides researchers with a platform to study high-temperature phase transitions, graphitization kinetics, and hydrocarbon material development in a controlled atmosphere.
Graphitization of Carbon Precursors
Converts amorphous carbon into highly crystalline graphite, critical for the production of electrodes, crucibles, and refractory components.
Carbon Fiber Final Treatment
Ensures enhanced tensile strength and electrical conductivity during the final heat treatment stage of carbon fiber manufacturing.
High-Purity Graphite Fabrication
Enables precise processing of semiconductor-grade graphite parts such as susceptors, heaters, and nozzles.
Advanced Ceramics & Sintering
Supports ultra-high temperature sintering of borides, carbides, and nitrides required in aerospace, defense, and nuclear applications.
Materials R&D
Provides researchers with a platform to study high-temperature phase transitions, graphitization kinetics, and hydrocarbon material development in a controlled atmosphere.
Outcome
The delivery of this 3000°C graphitization furnace allowed our client to scale their carbon material production, accelerate research, and meet the stringent purity and performance standards of industries like aerospace, batteries, and semiconductors. The CX-GF20/30VT is now a cornerstone of their material innovation infrastructure.
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