An industrial crucible is a vessel used in industries and laboratories to melt substances, particularly metallic elements, prior to casting. It is designed to withstand extremely high temperatures and must have outstanding chemical and physical stability. The crucible must have a melting point higher than the materials it contains and be chemically compatible with the molten substance to avoid reactions that can lead to crucible deterioration and melt contamination.
The construction of a crucible furnace consists of two main parts: a heating element and a crucible. The heating element can be either an electric or gas burner, which generates heat transferred to the crucible. The crucible itself is made of materials such as graphite, clay, or silicon carbide that can withstand high temperatures.
Crucibles have been used throughout history, with various designs reflecting the specific processes and regional variations. The modern crucible is a highly heterogeneous, graphite-based composite material that relies on its composition and control of the graphite's structural alignment for performance.
In modern-day applications, crucibles can range in size from teacups to those that hold several tons of metal. They may be fixed within a furnace structure or designed to be removable for pouring at the end of each melt. Crucibles are used in fuel-fired furnaces, electric resistance furnaces, induction furnaces, or simply for transferring molten metal. They come in various shapes, with or without pouring spouts, and offer different performance characteristics tailored to specific temperature, chemical, and physical parameters.
In laboratories, crucibles are used to contain chemical compounds when heated to extremely high temperatures. They come in different sizes and typically have a corresponding lid. During heating, the crucible is often placed inside a pipeclay triangle, which is then held on top of a tripod.
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