A vacuum heat treatment apparatus according to the embodiment comprises a chamber; a thermal insulator in the chamber; a reaction container in the thermal insulator; a heating member between the reaction container and the the thermal insulator for heating the reaction container; and a temperature measuring member in or on a surface of the reaction container, wherein the temperature measuring member comprises a thermocouple and a protective tube surrounding the thermocouple, and the protective tube comprises tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), or silicon carbide (SiC).

A vacuum heat treatment apparatus according to the embodiment comprises a chamber; a thermal insulator in the chamber; a reaction container in the thermal insulator; a heating member between the reaction container and the the thermal insulator for heating the reaction container; and a temperature measuring member in or on a surface of the reaction container, wherein the temperature measuring member comprises a thermocouple and a protective tube surrounding the thermocouple, and the protective tube comprises tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), or silicon carbide (SiC).

Provided is a gas management assembly for a high pressure heat-treatment apparatus, the assembly including: a housing having an inner space; a gas supply module disposed in the inner space and configured to supply a gas to internal and external chambers of the high pressure heat-treatment apparatus; a gas exhaust module disposed in the inner space and configured to exhaust the gas caused by heat treatment of an object from the internal chamber; a detection module connected to the gas exhaust module in the inner space and configured to detect the residual gas remaining in the internal chamber; and a control module configured to control at least one of the gas supply module and the gas exhaust module based on a detection result of the residual gas by the detection module.

Provided is a gas management assembly for a high pressure heat-treatment apparatus, the assembly including: a housing having an inner space; a gas supply module disposed in the inner space and configured to supply a gas to internal and external chambers of the high pressure heat-treatment apparatus; a gas exhaust module disposed in the inner space and configured to exhaust the gas caused by heat treatment of an object from the internal chamber; a detection module connected to the gas exhaust module in the inner space and configured to detect the residual gas remaining in the internal chamber; and a control module configured to control at least one of the gas supply module and the gas exhaust module based on a detection result of the residual gas by the detection module.

A sintering furnace with a first zone, in particular a burn-off zone, and a second zone, in particular a sintering zone, and also a transitional zone arranged between the first zone and the second zone. The sintering furnace has at least one transporting mechanism for transporting bodies to be sintered on a transporting area. With this transporting mechanism, the bodies to be sintered can be transported from the first zone and through the transitional zone to the second zone. The sintering furnace also has at least one gas removal device with at least one gas removal device opening. Here, the gas removal device opening is at least partially arranged in the region of the transitional zone. Furthermore, a method by means of which gases can be removed from a sintering furnace is claimed.

Provided are a method and apparatus for refining titanium scraps and sponge titanium, which can remove oxygen from a melt by supplying a deoxidizing gas to the surface of the melt in order to refine titanium scraps and sponge titanium. The method for refining titanium scraps and sponge titanium comprises supplying hydrogen ions and electrons in plasma to a titanium melt to remove oxygen from the titanium melt surface having an oxide layer formed thereon. In addition, the apparatus comprises: a vacuum chamber; a crucible located in the vacuum chamber and configured to perform melting by the magnetic field of an induction coil in a state in which a melt and the inner wall of the crucible; a calcium gas supply means configured to supply calcium gas from the bottom of the crucible to the space between the inner wall of the crucible and the melt.

Provided are a method and apparatus for refining titanium scraps and sponge titanium, which can remove oxygen from a melt by supplying a deoxidizing gas to the surface of the melt in order to refine titanium scraps and sponge titanium. The method for refining titanium scraps and sponge titanium comprises supplying hydrogen ions and electrons in plasma to a titanium melt to remove oxygen from the titanium melt surface having an oxide layer formed thereon. In addition, the apparatus comprises: a vacuum chamber; a crucible located in the vacuum chamber and configured to perform melting by the magnetic field of an induction coil in a state in which a melt and the inner wall of the crucible; a calcium gas supply means configured to supply calcium gas from the bottom of the crucible to the space between the inner wall of the crucible and the melt.

In a heater unit for a carburizing furnace that carburizes a workpiece, a heater that heats a furnace atmosphere; and a heater supporting member that reflects radiant heat of the heater are provided, in which a heat generation part of the heater is attached to the heater supporting member, and a heat generation body composing the heat generation part is formed in a bellows shape.

In a heater unit for a carburizing furnace that carburizes a workpiece, a heater that heats a furnace atmosphere; and a heater supporting member that reflects radiant heat of the heater are provided, in which a heat generation part of the heater is attached to the heater supporting member, and a heat generation body composing the heat generation part is formed in a bellows shape.

A method for heat treating metal alloy powder includes (a) introducing metal alloy powder to a chamber having a floor and a sidewall; (b) flowing a fluidizing gas through the floor and into the chamber to fluidize the metal alloy powder in the chamber; (c) flowing an additional gas through the sidewall into the chamber; and (d) heating the chamber to heat treat the metal alloy powder in the chamber. A system for heat treating metal alloy powder includes an inner chamber having a porous floor and a porous sidewall; an outer chamber, the inner chamber being inside of the outer chamber and defining an annular space between the outer chamber and the inner chamber, wherein the outer chamber and the inner chamber are inside a furnace; a source of fluidizing gas connected to the porous floor through the annular space; and a source of additional gas communicated with the porous sidewall through the annular space.