According to certain aspects, a wrapped green body carrier for a green body includes side supports and moveable supports mounted to the side supports. Each of the moveable supports includes an inner end configured to move relative to the side supports. The green body carrier includes a flexible sheet attached to and suspended from each inner end of the moveable supports. The inner ends of the moveable supports are configured to move inward to wrap the flexible sheet around at least a portion of the green body (e.g., more than 180°). Accordingly, the wrapped green body carrier supports a large circumference of the green body and accommodates large deviations in shape and/or diameter. In certain embodiments, the flexible sheet includes radiation coupling material or radiation blocking material so that wrapping the flexible sheet around the green body improves uniformity during microwave drying.

A loading tooling for thermochemical treatment of parts includes at least first and second loading stages stacked one on the other in separable manner, each loading stage including a rack extending in a horizontal plane. The rack is supported by four legs extending in a vertical direction with the legs of the second loading stage standing on the legs of the first loading stage. The rack has a plurality of support arms secured thereto, with the plurality of support arms of the first loading stage presenting an arrangement that is different from the arrangement of the plurality of support arms of the second loading stage.

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin molded body, including heating a fiber-reinforced resin molded body precursor containing thermoplastic resin as matrix resin to soften it and molding it in a molding die, where temperature unevenness between the inside and surface of the fiber-reinforced resin molded body precursor can be reduced. The method includes a first step of storing a fiber-reinforced resin molded body precursor containing thermoplastic resin as the matrix resin and containing conductive fibrous materials therein into a heating furnace with heating apparatuses while holding the precursor using a pair of holding tools, which also function as electrodes, and then actuating the heating apparatuses while supplying current to the precursor from the electrodes, thereby softening the precursor; and a second step of transferring the softened precursor to a molding die using the holding tools, and molding a fiber-reinforced resin molded body in the molding die.

A loading tooling for thermochemical treatment of parts includes at least first and second loading stages stacked one on the other in separable manner, each loading stage including a rack extending in a horizontal plane. The rack is supported by four legs extending in a vertical direction with the legs of the second loading stage standing on the legs of the first loading stage. The rack has a plurality of support arms secured thereto, with the plurality of support arms of the first loading stage presenting an arrangement that is different from the arrangement of the plurality of support arms of the second loading stage.

A system for heat treating sapphire components to increase strength while maintaining the optical finish and/or transparency of the component. The system may include a fixture positioned in a furnace and configured to suspend an array or group of sapphire components. The fixture may include notches or other features to assist in locating and positioning the sapphire components. Shield elements or enclosures may also be interspersed with the sapphire components and may help produce a more uniform heat distribution and protect the sapphire components from emissions or deposits. Some aspects are directed to a sleeve tool and fixture jig that can be used to assemble the sapphire components onto the fixture in a way that reduces the risk of marring or otherwise damaging the sapphire components.

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin molded body, including heating a fiber-reinforced resin molded body precursor containing thermoplastic resin as matrix resin to soften it and molding it in a molding die, where temperature unevenness between the inside and surface of the fiber-reinforced resin molded body precursor can be reduced. The method includes a first step of storing a fiber-reinforced resin molded body precursor containing thermoplastic resin as the matrix resin and containing conductive fibrous materials therein into a heating furnace with heating apparatuses while holding the precursor using a pair of holding tools, which also function as electrodes, and then actuating the heating apparatuses while supplying current to the precursor from the electrodes, thereby softening the precursor; and a second step of transferring the softened precursor to a molding die using the holding tools, and molding a fiber-reinforced resin molded body in the molding die.

A system for chemical transformation of 3D state materials is disclosed wherein, a reaction group having a main body arranged to shape a reaction chamber in which a component configured to support a sample of 3D state arranged to be chemically transform is expected. The system further includes an oven arranged to heat the reaction chamber and a GAS supply group arranged to release a first gas in the reaction chamber and/or a casing component, inside the main body, which has a chemical agent suitable for releasing a second gas into the reaction chamber. The main body has at least two turbines arranged to converge into the reaction chamber, the first and/or the second gas on the samples. The invention relates also to a method for chemical transformation of 3D state materials.

According to certain aspects, a wrapped green body carrier for a green body includes side supports and moveable supports mounted to the side supports. Each of the moveable supports includes an inner end configured to move relative to the side supports. The green body carrier includes a flexible sheet attached to and suspended from each inner end of the moveable supports. The inner ends of the moveable supports are configured to move inward to wrap the flexible sheet around at least a portion of the green body (e.g., more than 180). Accordingly, the wrapped green body carrier supports a large circumference of the green body and accommodates large deviations in shape and/or diameter. In certain embodiments, the flexible sheet includes radiation coupling material or radiation blocking material so that wrapping the flexible sheet around the green body improves uniformity during microwave drying.