The difference between a muffle furnace and an air oven lies in their purpose and design.
A muffle furnace is primarily used for burning down samples to assess the impurities in them. It generates high temperatures, with a maximum temperature of 1,473 K (1,200 °C; 2,192 °F), using a flame from a burner as the heat source. It consists of a metal container that can be fused by heating to high temperatures, with a cylindrical chamber and sliding doors at both ends.
On the other hand, an air oven, also known as a hot air oven, is mainly used for dry sterilization, estimating the behavior of test materials after heat treatment, and preparing samples for testing. It operates at lower temperatures compared to a muffle furnace and is typically used for drying materials in sample preparation or for moisture content determinations. It is usually made of brick or metal and is commonly used in the kitchen for baking and roasting food.
In summary, the main difference between a muffle furnace and an air oven is their use and the temperatures they can reach. A muffle furnace is used for burning down samples and can reach higher temperatures, while an air oven is used for various heat treatment processes and operates at lower temperatures.
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