Thermal Technology recently shipped a Brew Division Metalmaster, Model 812T sintering
furnace system to Tantalum Pellet Company Inc. (TPC) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Todd Knowles, General Manager of TPC, explains that this state of the
art furnace system will be used to sinter tantalum anodes that are used in the manufacture
of tantalum capacitors. TPC is a division of TPC Hilton Capacitor and manufactures high
quality anodes and cathodes for capacitors and electrodes for flashtubes. These components
are manufactured by pressing tantalum powder into appropriate shapes and then sintering to
fuse the powder.
The Model 812T Metalmaster has usable hot zone dimensions of 7 inches
diameter by 8 inches tall. This hot zone features tantalum heating elements and
radiation shields. Important process parameters in the sintering of the capacitor anodes
include a high degree of temperature uniformity and a high level of vacuum. The Model 812T
Metalmaster provides excellent temperature uniformity by utilizing a vertical cylindrical
hot zone with a hanging cylindrical main heating element and top and bottom trim heating
elements. This cylindrical design together with cylindrical work racks has distinct
benefits when compared to cuboid or rectangular hot zone designs. Heat is more evenly
directed to the work and corner loss is reduced with a more even heat loss system. The
addition of the trim heaters further assures even heating by having adjustable top and
bottom heating. |
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Temperature control of the elements is achieved with three separate P.I.D.
closed-loop control systems. This arrangement provides a temperature tuned hot zone with
very low temperature gradients. A high vacuum level of 10-6 torr is obtained
quickly in 15 minutes using a Varian VHS10 diffusion pump backed with a 54 CFM Leybold
rotary vane mechanical vacuum pump.
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The Metalmaster furnace features easy to use automated
controls with all essential fail safe interlocks. This design permits completely
unattended operation with excellent control of pertinent process parameters. For more
information contact:
Thermal Technology
Brew Division
90 Airport Road
Concord, New Hampshire 03301-7302
Telephone: (603) 225-6605
Fax: (603) 224-3798
E-mail: sales@thermaltechnology.com
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