SINTERING ATMOSPHERE ANALYSIS; Selection and use of Analyzers to monitor and control Sintering Atmospheres

摘要

Driven by customers seeking to reduce costs and improve consistency, tighter specifications and more stringent requirements are constantly being imposed on Powder Metal companies with regards to sintering and heat-treating. Because of the inherent variances in the materials being processed, generated atmosphere output, and the sintering process itself, atmosphere analysis equipment that measures the parameters known to affect product quality and process efficiency can be incorporated in order to assist powder metal parts producers in their quest for more reliability and ultimately higher profits. These analytical devices can provide insight into what is happening inside a furnace so the operator can drive the process just as a pilot uses instruments to land a plane in the fog. In addition, incorporating various levels of control into sintering and heat treat processes can help reduce the demands placed on furnace operators, resulting in a more consistent operation. Powder Metal part producers seeking process control equipment for monitoring and controlling atmospheres during sintering and heat treatment have a host of options. Depending on the level of control, furnace type, atmosphere components to be measured and controlled, and the required response time, these choices can be overwhelming. This paper will review some of the different atmospheres used in sintering, the intended roles of the atmosphere and some of the atmosphere constituents encountered. Once there is a basic understanding of the atmosphere components, we will then describe some of the atmosphere analysis equipment available, principles of operation and the various levels of control that each provides. Finally, we will discuss how these tools can help sintering operators gain a better understanding of their process and atmospheres with some specific examples.