The types of furnace atmosphere primarily include exothermic atmosphere, endothermic atmosphere, and inert atmospheres. Each type serves specific purposes in metal heat treatment processes.
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Exothermic Atmosphere: This type of atmosphere is characterized by exothermic reactions, which generate heat without the need for external heating of gas and air. It is effective in preventing surface oxidation during metal heat treatment. There are two types of exothermic atmospheres used for heating steel:
- Rich Exothermic: This atmosphere has a nominal composition of N2 = 71.5%; CO = 10.5%; CO2 = 5%; H2 = 12.5%; methane (CH4) = 0.5%. It is typically used for steel tempering, copper and silver brazing, annealing, and powdered metal sintering. The carbon potential of the gas mixture is lower than 0.10%, making it suitable for low carbon steels to avoid decarburization, which could lead to poor wear resistance.
- Lean Exothermic: This atmosphere has a nominal composition of N2 = 86.8%; CO = 1.5%; CO2 = 10.5%; H2 = 1.2%. It is less commonly used compared to the rich exothermic atmosphere due to its lower carbon monoxide and hydrogen content, which affects its ability to prevent oxidation and decarburization.
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Endothermic Atmosphere (Class 300): This atmosphere is created by adding a mixture of fuel and air to a heated chamber containing a catalyst. The process results in an atmosphere that is rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which are effective in preventing oxidation and decarburization during heat treatment processes. It is particularly useful for applications requiring precise control over the atmosphere composition.
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Inert Atmospheres: These include gases like argon, nitrogen, and helium, which do not react with the materials being heated. They are used to prevent oxidation and other chemical reactions during heat treatment. Inert atmospheres are particularly useful for sensitive materials or processes where the presence of oxygen or other reactive gases could be detrimental.
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Other Atmospheres:
- Class 200: This basic atmosphere is created by removing carbon dioxide and water vapor from a nitrogen base. It is typically used in less critical applications where a simple, clean atmosphere is required.
- Class 600: This atmosphere is based on ammonia and is used in specific applications where the properties of ammonia are beneficial, such as in certain types of nitriding processes.
Each of these atmospheres serves a specific purpose in the heat treatment of metals, depending on the desired outcome and the properties of the materials being treated. The choice of atmosphere is critical in achieving the desired metallurgical properties and preventing unwanted reactions during the heating process.
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