Steel sheets for hot stamping accommodated in a far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace are stably supported over a long period of time using steel sheet support members having a small projected area and inhibited from thermally deforming. The far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace includes: heating units and a ceiling unit arranged in a vertical direction with multiple stages to accommodate aluminum-coated steel sheets or zinc- coated steel sheets for hot stamping; and far-infrared radiation heaters disposed within the heating units and the ceiling unit to heat the steel sheets for hot stamping to a temperature ranging from the Ac.sub.3 transformation temperature to 950° C. Steel sheet support members are mounted to the heating units to support the steel sheets for hot stamping by point contact or line contact with the steel sheets for hot stamping.

Steel sheets for hot stamping accommodated in a far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace are stably supported over a long period of time using steel sheet support members having a small projected area and inhibited from thermally deforming. The far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace includes: heating units and a ceiling unit arranged in a vertical direction with multiple stages to accommodate aluminum-coated steel sheets or zinc- coated steel sheets for hot stamping; and far-infrared radiation heaters disposed within the heating units and the ceiling unit to heat the steel sheets for hot stamping to a temperature ranging from the Ac.sub.3 transformation temperature to 950° C. Steel sheet support members are mounted to the heating units to support the steel sheets for hot stamping by point contact or line contact with the steel sheets for hot stamping.

A first wall structure for a plasma chamber (200). The first wall structure comprises and inner wall (201) and a solid deposit (202). The inner wall is formed from a refractory metal or an alloy or composite thereof and has a plurality of pores. The solid deposit in thermal contact with the inner wall, such that the plurality of pores provide a passage from an exterior of the first wall structure to the deposit. The deposit consists of a material having a boiling point less than a melting point of the refractory metal. The first wall structure is configured such that at a normal operating temperature of the first wall structure, the deposit is solid.

To provide a method of forming a positive electrode active material with high productivity. To provide a manufacturing apparatus capable of forming a positive electrode active material with high productivity. Provided is a method of forming a positive electrode active material including lithium, a transition metal, oxygen, and fluorine. An adhesion preventing step is performed during heating of an object. Examples of the adhesion preventing step include stirring by rotating a furnace during the heating, stirring by vibrating a container containing an object during the heating, and crushing performed between the plurality of heating steps. By these manufacturing methods, a positive electrode active material having favorable distribution of an additive at the surface portion can be formed.

A vacuum pressure furnace and/or a cooling plate for a vacuum pressure furnace is described, having a cooling channel or tube that selectively circulates a liquid coolant at a reduced temperature. The cooling channel “snakes” back and forth through a target plate assembly to conduct heat from the target plate assembly and back to the coolant. The target plate assembly includes a plurality of clamp members that are screwed over portions of the cooling channel and to a bottom of a plate member of the assembly, enclosing portions of the cooling channel. Thermal sheets or foil are wrapped around the cooling channel, thereby bridging any gaps between the components that may occur during temperature changes due to thermal expansion/contraction.

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).

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 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.

An apparatus for separating and recovering the components of an alloy, particularly a noble alloy, including a high vacuum chamber housing at least one crucible for the alloy to be separated; at least one heating element arranged, during use, around the crucible; at least one condensation device, which faces, during use, an upper mouth of the crucible. The particularity of the present invention resides in that the condensation device includes at least one cold element and at least one deflector that is adapted to divert the flow of the aeriform substances derived from the melting and evaporation of the alloy toward the cold element. The invention also relates to a process for separating and recovering the components of an alloy, particularly a noble alloy.