Temper furnace

Types of temper furnaces

A temper furnace is an industrial furnace that helps chemically strengthen and toughen glass by relieving interior stresses. When users heat the glass in a tempering furnace, it makes it more resilient against natural factors like weather changes and human activities like abrasion. A glass tempering furnace will then cool the glass through a precisely-controlled cooling process called quenching. This tempering process increases the glass's impact, thermal, and airflow resistance.

Several furnaces for glass exist based on their usage in different industries.

• Solar furnaces: Solar furnaces convert solar energy into thermal energy using mirrors that focus sunlight into a beam. This beam will then heat up the material placed in the solar furnace. A solar furnace works independently of a power supply and is typically used for metallurgical applications, making material samples, and carrying out chemical reactions.
• Rotary furnaces: In a rotary furnace, raw materials are fed from the higher section of the furnace while molten glass is drawn from the lower section. Air blowers are used to rotate the glass, further ensuring uniform heating and temperature distribution. Rotary tempering furnaces are typically used to manufacture glass for bottles, containers, and fiberglass products.
• Ceramic furnaces: A ceramic tempering furnace is available in various models and widely used in ceramics factories to manufacture ceramic tiles. In these types of furnaces, the glazed surface of the tile is melted and then solidified upon cooling. This results in a tough and durable tile, which stands the test of time.
• Sintering furnaces: In this type of furnace, the ceramic or metallic particles are fused together to form a solid piece through the application of extreme heat. Unlike the tempering furnace, there is no melting involved of either the particles of the material or sintering furnace itself. The particle remains tightly packed together, forming a solid. Sintering furnaces are popular in the construction and manufacturing industries, such as jewelry, automotive, and electronic components.

Specifications & Maintenance of Temper Furnaces

Some common specifications of tempering furnaces to consider when buying include the capacity, heating power, temperature range, and control system.

• Capacity

  This refers to the volume of the tempering furnace. It shows the amount of the metal that the furnace can process at a time. Typically, the capacity is expressed in cubic feet or cubic meters.

• Heating Power

  This refers to the power the furnace uses to heat metal in watts or kilowatts. Heating power determines the temperature the furnace can attain and its heating rate.

• Temperature Range

  The tempering furnace can achieve and sustain various temperature ranges. The temperature range determines the type of metal the furnace can process.

• Control System

  Many modern tempering furnaces possess automatic or computer control capabilities. These allow precise regulation of parameters like time, temperature, and pressure. Furnaces may incorporate PLC, touch screens, and other advanced control techniques for user convenience and system reliability.

To ensure the tempering furnace works efficiently over time, it is essential to carry out regular maintenance practices. With time, the performance of the tempering furnace can have an impact on the quality of the processed metal. 

There are a couple of essential maintenance tips for tempering furnaces to consider. First, develop a regular inspection schedule. Set up periodic inspections to evaluate the overall condition of the furnace equipment. This helps in identifying any potential issues early enough and preventing untimely equipment failures.

Second, ensure proper cleaning of the furnace. Regularly remove any dust, debris, or impurities that may have settled on the surface of the furnace. This helps to maintain the hygiene and operating performance of the equipment. In addition, users should check the wearing parts of the tempering furnace from time to time. This includes chains, belts, gears, and bearings. They should replace or repair those parts that are damaged to avoid interfering with normal operations.

Scenarios of temper furnaces

The presence of tempering furnaces has proven useful in many industries.

• Glass making industry

  The glass tempering furnace has become the backbone of the glass making industry. With more and more people advocating for energy conservation, the use of tempered glass in building construction has increased. Not only does tempered glass meet building codes, but it also has the capability to withstand harsh weather. The automotive industry relies on glass tempering furnaces to produce windshields and windows made of tempered glass.

• Metallurgical industry

  The metallurgy industry cherishes the use of tempering furnaces. These furnaces give steel and metal alloys used certain properties, such as improved hardness, increased impact resistance, and greater durability. Tools, sporting equipment, and structural components often contain alloys treated by tempering furnaces.

• Ceramics and biomaterials

  With the recent advancement of tempering furnaces, industries working with ceramics and biomaterials have gained the ability to produce more durable and high-quality materials. The ceramics used for construction, pottery, and insulating devices are processed and strengthened through tempering furnaces.

• Food processing industry

  The food processing industry uses tempering furnaces in its food production lines. Tempering furnaces allow for sterilization, dehydration, and drying of food at high temperatures, increasing its shelf life and keeping it safe for consumption.

• Aerospace and automotive industries

  The aerospace and automotive industries greatly benefit from tempering furnaces. These industries require components made from strong and resistant materials. The only way to achieve this is with tempering furnaces, which process the alloys and steels used to make critical parts.

• Metrology and calibration industry

  Many measuring and metrological devices like sensors, probes, and thermocouples rely on tempering furnaces to ensure accurate and reliable measurements. The metrology and calibration industry uses small-scale furnaces.

• Research and development

  Many universities and research institutions conduct studies on the effects of heat treatment on various metals and compounds. These studies have led to further advancements and applications of the tempering furnace in various fields.

How to choose temper furnaces

When selecting a tempering furnace for purchase, buyers should check the furnace's control system. Modern tempering furnaces typically use high-tech computerized systems to control the temperature inside the furnace with great precision. Some furnaces automatically change the temperature according to a preset schedule. Also, buyers should look at how the power of the furnace is supplied. There are electric tempering furnaces and gas-powered vigor furnaces. Gas-powered furnaces typically have more rapid heating rates.

Consider the safety features of the furnaces. For example, does the power supply of the whirling furnace have an overload-protection mechanism? Are the electrical circuits waterproof? In general, safety standards require manufacturers to install various safety features to prevent accidents. Because safety is a vital prerequisite, buyers are advised to research and choose tempering furnaces with numerous safety features.

Also, buyers should choose furnaces suitable for their glass products. For instance, a large-capacity furnace like an industrial tempering furnace would be more suitable for commercial use like factory production lines. A small desktop tempering furnace or portable one like the electric mini tempering furnace is better for educational and experimental settings or small-scale applications.

Consider the maintenance services offered by the suppliers. Do they provide manuals? Are spare parts readily available? What about the technical support line? This information is essential to know because furnace maintenance is crucial for business operation success. Finally, buyers should get tempering furnace reviews from previous buyers. The reviews can help buyers learn more about the pros and cons of a specific type of tempering furnace. They can also reveal suppliers' reputation and customer service experience.

Temper furnace FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between tempering and annealing furnaces?

A1: The tempering furnace is used to increase the toughness of brittle materials, especially for steel that contains a high carbon content. An annealing furnace lowers internal stresses, improves ductility, and refines the structure of the material.

Q2: What are the two types of tempering?

A2: The two types of tempering are low and high tempering. Low tempering involves heating the material at a lower temperature to enhance ductility and impact strength. On the other hand, high tempering uses elevated temperatures to remove a material's rigidity.

Q3: What is a tempering furnace used for?

A3: A tempering furnace is used for heat treatment processes that increase the toughness and reduce the brittleness of materials like steel and iron.

Q4: What is the maximum temperature of a tempering furnace?

A4: Tempering furnaces can reach a maximum temperature of 700 to 750 degrees Celsius, depending on the design and specifications of the furnace.