A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium alloy, includes heat treating the preform in a furnace at a predefined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment. The holder includes a titanium alloy having a mass titanium content no lower than 45%, or a zirconium alloy having a mass zirconium content no lower than 95%, wherein the material making up the holder has a melting temperature higher than the predefined heat treatment temperature, and an antidiffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder to prevent the preform from becoming welded to the holder.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of firing a unit cell for a solid oxide fuel cell, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method of firing a unit cell for a solid oxide fuel cell, which are capable of performing pre-sintering and main sintering using a single apparatus by adjusting a height of a setter.

A framework for handling blades, comprising a bottom wall carrying a plurality of intermeshed longitudinal and transverse partitions forming a grid defining a plurality of housings each able to receive a blade. The framework comprises rods for supporting and holding the blades remote from the base wall and said longitudinal and transverse partitions, said rods crossing the longitudinal and transverse partitions and extending into the housings and being produced, at least externally, from a thermally insulating material.

A workpiece carrier and method for producing a workpiece carrier (10) for providing and handling workpieces in high-temperature ovens for high-temperature treatment or similar, said workpiece carrier being made of a support grid (11) having workpiece holders (12) for positioning workpieces on the workpiece carrier, said support grid being made of support struts (14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) forming a grid structure (21), said support struts being made of carbon fiber-reinforced carbon (CFC), said workpiece holders being made of positioning devices (22) of the work-piece carrier arranged on the support struts, said positioning devices being arranged on the support struts such that the workpiece can be arranged on the workpiece holder in a predetermined position, said positioning devices comprising a bearing element (24) made of a ceramic fiber composite material, said positioning device being a support element (23) arranged on a support strut for arranging the bearing element.

A framework for handling blades, comprising a bottom wall carrying a plurality of intermeshed longitudinal and transverse partitions forming a grid defining a plurality of housings each able to receive a blade. The framework comprises rods for supporting and holding the blades remote from the base wall and said longitudinal and transverse partitions, said rods crossing the longitudinal and transverse partitions and extending into the housings and being produced, at least externally, from a thermally insulating material.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium alloy, includes heat treating the preform in a furnace at a predefined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment. The holder includes a titanium alloy having a mass titanium content no lower than 45%, or a zirconium alloy having a mass zirconium content no lower than 95%, wherein the material making up the holder has a melting temperature higher than the predefined heat treatment temperature, and an antidiffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder to prevent the preform from becoming welded to the holder.

A retaining bar to be used in combination with a heat furnace supporting assembly for supporting at least one receptacle. The retaining bar comprises at least one single piece elongated body having a finite length and at least one receptacle receiving cavity defined therein and extending along a section of the length of the body. Each one of the at least one receptacle receiving cavity is configured to receive therein one of a bottom section and an upper section of one of the at least one receptacle. A heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly comprising such a retaining bar and a heat furnace provided with the heat furnace receptacle supporting assembly are further provided.

A heat protective device includes a sheet having a first edge opposite a second edge. The sheet is comprised of a plurality of intertwined links that are movable with respect to each other. A strip is positioned between the first edge of the sheet and the second edge of the sheet. A fastener couples the first edge of the sheet and the second edge of the sheet to the strip to form a tubular shape. The fastener is configured to adjust a diameter of the tubular shape to releasably fix the heat protective device about an object. A method for manufacturing a heat protective device is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for treating a workpiece such as a mold grid includes moving the workpiece laterally along a conveyor assembly into a furnace for heating in a carbon-rich atmosphere to form a heated workpiece. The heated workpiece is then received from the furnace onto the conveyor assembly in an enclosed vestibule whereupon it is clamped under pressure between an overhead mechanical press and the conveyor assembly to form a clamped assembly. The clamped assembly, including a portion of the conveyor, is then lowered into a quenching bath via an elevator assembly until the heated workpiece is quenched, whereupon the clamped assembly is raised out of the bath and the clamping force released. This clamping during quenching acts to maintain the workpiece in a planar orientation while reducing warpage during the quenching process.

Disclosed is a tool system for disposing parts therein that are intended to undergo a thermal treatment, including a plurality of elementary components which can be assembled together, each component being made of a material suitable for its function, in particular blocks made of graphite and beams made of composite material.