Graphite is a good heating element material due to its stable resistivity, low resistance temperature coefficient, small thermal expansion coefficient, and large blackness. It provides high temperatures up to 980 °C and has a rapid response time of 4 seconds. The heat output at 60 seconds can reach up to 5600 J.
Graphite heating elements are commonly used in vacuum furnaces for general heat treatment processes like hardening and brazing. They have a lower thermal mass compared to previous generation graphite rod or bar elements. Graphite is unaffected by thermal shock and can withstand frequent heating and cooling without degradation. It is also more durable than molybdenum heating elements and has better resistance to operational mishaps such as accidental breakage or braze alloy spill.
Graphite furnaces can operate at temperatures as high as 3000°C in inert gas or 2200°C in a vacuum. This makes graphite a desirable material for various thermal applications due to its thermal properties and chemical resistance.
Manufactured from a high purity carbon composite, graphite heating elements offer excellent temperature uniformity, longevity, mechanical strength, and repeatability. They are designed with rounded edges and proper gap spacing to minimize gas ionization at elevated temperatures, increasing their life expectancy and maximum obtainable temperatures.
Early designs of graphite heating elements were bulky and limited to simple shapes, and their connections were prone to failure. However, with advances in materials and manufacturing techniques, graphite heating elements have overcome these challenges. The most widely used design incorporates lightweight and durable curved bands.
In the past, molybdenum heating elements were the preferred choice for vacuum furnaces. However, with the improvements in graphite-based electrical products, the popularity of graphite heating elements now exceeds that of molybdenum elements in general heat-treating and brazing furnaces.
Overall, graphite is a reliable and effective heating element material, offering high temperatures, rapid response time, durability, and resistance to operational mishaps. It is widely used in various thermal applications and has become a well-accepted choice for heating element material.
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