A furnace for the thermal treatment, particularly for carbonization and/or graphitization, of material, particularly of fibers, particularly of fibers made from oxidized polyacrylonitrile (PAN), the furnace having a furnace housing and a process chamber located in the interior chamber of the furnace housing, which is delimited by a process chamber housing and into which the material to be treated can be introduced. A process chamber atmosphere prevailing in the process chamber can be heated by means of a heating system. An insulation layer thermally insulates the process chamber. The insulation layer is an insulation fill made from a solid particulate material.

A method of thermal processing a work piece using another work piece which includes providing a chamber having a plurality of temperature zones, disposing a first work piece within a first temperature zone of the chamber, allowing a temperature of the first work piece to thermally equilibrate with the first temperature zone, moving the first work piece to a second temperature zone and disposing a second work piece within the second temperature zone of the chamber, in fluid communication with the first work piece, wherein a thermal exchange occurs between the first and second work pieces.

A method of thermal processing a work piece using another work piece which includes providing a chamber having a plurality of temperature zones, disposing a first work piece within a first temperature zone of the chamber, allowing a temperature of the first work piece to thermally equilibrate with the first temperature zone, moving the first work piece to a second temperature zone and disposing a second work piece within the second temperature zone of the chamber, in fluid communication with the first work piece, wherein a thermal exchange occurs between the first and second work pieces.

A thermal process device for heat treating a product or plurality of products includes a thermal processing chamber having opposed distal ends and at least one controllable heating zone. At least one buffer zone disposed is at each of the distal ends, the buffer zones and at least one heating zone of the thermal processing chamber forming a heating element assembly having an inner and outer surface. At least one layer of insulating material is disposed along the at least one buffer and heating zones of the thermal processing chamber and forming part of the heating element assembly, the at least one layer of insulating material having a controlled efficiency being applied non-uniformly across an axial length of the heating assembly.

A reflow oven includes a chamber housing including surfaces that are in contact with heated air mixed with contaminants, including flux, and a water-soluble layer selectively applied to the surfaces of the chamber housing. Embodiments of the reflow oven include an acrylic-based layer, such as an acrylic paint. In one embodiment, the acrylic paint includes a water-soluble polymer, a polymer emulsion, and water. The water-soluble polymer includes butyl benzyl phthalate. In some embodiments, the acrylic paint includes 1-10% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 30-55% by weight acrylic polymer emulsion, and balance water. In a certain embodiment, the acrylic paint includes 1-5% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 35-50% by weight acrylic poly emulsion, and balance water. Methods of treating surfaces of the reflow oven are further disclosed.

A reflow oven includes a chamber housing including surfaces that are in contact with heated air mixed with contaminants, including flux, and a water-soluble layer selectively applied to the surfaces of the chamber housing. Embodiments of the reflow oven include an acrylic-based layer, such as an acrylic paint. In one embodiment, the acrylic paint includes a water-soluble polymer, a polymer emulsion, and water. The water-soluble polymer includes butyl benzyl phthalate. In some embodiments, the acrylic paint includes 1-10% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 30-55% by weight acrylic polymer emulsion, and balance water. In a certain embodiment, the acrylic paint includes 1-5% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 35-50% by weight acrylic poly emulsion, and balance water. Methods of treating surfaces of the reflow oven are further disclosed.

Provide is an annealing furnace, a method of constructing the annealing furnace, and a structure for prefabrication which make it possible to use a prefabricated construction method for the annealing furnace even in a long length. The annealing furnace includes a case, and plural rows of rolls at the top and the bottom of the inside of the case, the rolls being configured to convey a steel strip. The annealing furnace includes: horizontally parting faces where a body of the furnace can be horizontally divided, wherein each of horizontally parted sections parted by the horizontally parting faces further has vertically parting faces where the horizontally parted sections can be divided in a direction vertical to a longitudinal direction of the body.

Provide is an annealing furnace, a method of constructing the annealing furnace, and a structure for prefabrication which make it possible to use a prefabricated construction method for the annealing furnace even in a long length. The annealing furnace includes a case, and plural rows of rolls at the top and the bottom of the inside of the case, the rolls being configured to convey a steel strip. The annealing furnace includes: horizontally parting faces where a body of the furnace can be horizontally divided, wherein each of horizontally parted sections parted by the horizontally parting faces further has vertically parting faces where the horizontally parted sections can be divided in a direction vertical to a longitudinal direction of the body.

Provide is an annealing furnace, a method of constructing the annealing furnace, and a structure for prefabrication which make it possible to use a prefabricated construction method for the annealing furnace even in a long length. The annealing furnace includes a case, and plural rows of rolls at the top and the bottom of the inside of the case, the rolls being configured to convey a steel strip. The annealing furnace includes: horizontally parting faces where a body of the furnace can be horizontally divided, wherein each of horizontally parted sections parted by the horizontally parting faces further has vertically parting faces where the horizontally parted sections can be divided in a direction vertical to a longitudinal direction of the body.

Provide is an annealing furnace, a method of constructing the annealing furnace, and a structure for prefabrication which make it possible to use a prefabricated construction method for the annealing furnace even in a long length. The annealing furnace includes a case, and plural rows of rolls at the top and the bottom of the inside of the case, the rolls being configured to convey a steel strip. The annealing furnace includes: horizontally parting faces where a body of the furnace can be horizontally divided, wherein each of horizontally parted sections parted by the horizontally parting faces further has vertically parting faces where the horizontally parted sections can be divided in a direction vertical to a longitudinal direction of the body.