Vacuum Technology is the Basis for Process Innovation in Heat Treatment

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Advantages of Vacuum Heat Treatment

Vacuum as “Protective Atmosphere”
• No toxic protective gases containing CO
• No health hazards in the work shop
• No danger of explosion or open flames
• No furnace conditioning
• Use of inert gases (nitrogen or helium)
• No CO2 emission

Vacuum Carburizing
• Use of various processes
• Use of different gases
• Shorter carburizing cycles than in conventional technology
• Higher carburizing temperatures offer potential to further reduce process time
• Small gas consumption l instead of m³

Gas Quenching Instead of Oil Quenching
• Clean, dry parts after hardening
• No washing machine – no disposal of washing water
• No maintenance of washing equipment
• No complicated washing water chemistry
• Saves space
• Cost benefits
• Quenching intensity is controlled via gas pressure or gas velocity
• No vapor blankets during quenching
• Homogeneous quenching
• Reduced distortion

Surface Influences
• Free of surface oxidation
• No surface decarburization
• Bright, metallic, shiny parts

•Vacuum furnace

Plant Operation / Installation / Maintenance
• No idling over the weekend
• No continuous gas consumption
• Short heat-up times
• Fast access to installed modules
• No fire detection or sprinkler system
• No open flames
• No flammable gas mixtures
• Cold-Wall Technology
• No gas emission
• Minimum energy loss
• No heat radiation to atmosphere

• Vacuum heat treatment furnace

Auxiliary Equipment of Protective Gas Plants are No Longer Required, Like:
• Fire safety equipment
• Sprinkler system
• Exhausts
• CO² extinguisher for the oil bath
• Measuring CO concentration in the shop
• Smoke exhaust in the roof (automatic opening and closing)
• Oil-proof floor or tank
• Methanol storage