A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.

A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.

A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.

The application basically comprises supplying a high-temperature ultra-high vacuum furnace, the sole chamber of which is metal, in which an electrically conductive crucible, preferably made of tantalum, is placed onto an insulating support, preferably a ceramic, and is induction heated by a winding wound around the crucible. The insulating tube, preferably made of quartz, that is arranged between the induction winding and the crucible, advantageously acts as a surface on which the condensable species can condense. The quartz insulating tube especially allows the induction winding to be protected.

A melting furnace includes a melting portion to which a metal material is supplied; a burner for melting the metal material in the melting portion; a heating portion that receives the molten material from the melting portion; a temperature regulating portion that receives the molten material from the heating portion; a separator that separates the heating portion and the temperature regulating portion, wherein the lower portion of the separator is immersed in the molten material to form, below the separator, an inlet; an immersion heater wherein at least part of the immersion heater is immersed in the molten material in the temperature regulating portion; and a gas introduction path that is formed in the separator, and that introduces combustion gas from the burner into a space above the molten material in the temperature regulating portion; wherein the burner is controlled so that the combustion gas has an oxygen concentration of 5% or less.

A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.

A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.

The present invention provides a melting furnace capable of suppressing oxidation of molten materials and improving the quality of the molten materials. As shown in FIG. 3, a melting furnace 1 includes a melting portion 2 to which a metal material is supplied; a burner 4 for melting the metal material in the melting portion 2 into a molten material; a heating portion 5 that receives the molten material from the melting portion 2 to raise the temperature of the molten material; a temperature regulating portion 6 that receives the molten material from the heating portion 5 and stores the molten material; a separator 7 that separates the heating portion 5 and the temperature regulating portion 6, wherein the lower portion 70 of the separator 7 is immersed in the molten material to form, below the separator 7, an inlet 71 that allows the introduction of the molten material from the heating portion 5 into the temperature regulating portion 6; an immersion heater 10 wherein at least part of the immersion heater 10 is immersed in the molten material in the temperature regulating portion 6 to thereby heat the molten material; and a gas introduction path 72 that is formed in the separator 7, and that introduces combustion gas from the burner 4 into a space above the molten material in the temperature regulating portion 6; wherein the burner 4 is controlled so that the combustion gas has an oxygen concentration of 5% or less.

The invention relates to a facility for producing a metal component having at least two regions of different strength properties, said facility consisting of a heating unit (2) comprising heat-producing radiation sources (4) as well as a positioning device for at least one base body (1) consisting of metal, and a protecting device comprising at least one covering part for the contactless protection of a pre-determined surface region of the base body (1), the protecting device being arranged in the heating unit such that it remains therein during a temperature control of the base body (1) before the forming of the base body in a forming tool, the protecting part comprising a plurality of separately manipulatable covering parts (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) which are respectively used to protect a predetermined surface region (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) of the Base Body (1), and a Manipulator (5) is Provided for Each Covering Part (3a to 3e), by means of which the covering part (3a to 3e) can be moved, independently from the other covering parts (3a to 3e) in the heating unit (2), into a covering position in which it covers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e), or into an uncovering position in which it uncovers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e) for the irradiation of the radiation sources (4).

A method for heat treating a superalloy component includes heating a superalloy component to a first temperature, cooling the superalloy from the first temperature to a second temperature at a first cooling rate in a furnace, and cooling the superalloy component from the second temperature to a final temperature at a second cooling rate. The second cooling rate is higher than the first cooling rate.