Furnace for cupelling and crucible fusion

E

Evik

New Member
#1
Dear all,

We are trying to set up the method for fire assay and we need to buy a furnace in order to do both cupelling and crucible fusion. What kind of furnace would you recommend for this? Is there anything important we need to know before we buy something?

Thank you in advance.
 
fireguy

fireguy

Supermoderator
#2
Dear all,

We are trying to set up the method for fire assay and we need to buy a furnace in order to do both cupelling and crucible fusion. What kind of furnace would you recommend for this? Is there anything important we need to know before we buy something?

Thank you in advance.
Evik: It is usually better to have dedicated furnaces for the two functions (crucible fusion and cupellation), but it is possible to use one furnace for both- especially the the quantity of analysis is relatively low.

You will need proper ventilation for the cupellation process.

If you wanted to run 6 (30 gram or 40 gram) crucibles at a time, and cupel 20 or 30 #7 cupels, a furnace this size would work:
www.lmine.com/product/26110.html

It can be provided with either an exhaust blower, or a roof vent hole (both arrangements include an adjustable door vent inlet to vary the air flow).
 
E

Evik

New Member
#3
fireguy: Thank you for your answer. I had a contact with the company, but they said that the specific furnace does not have the ventilation needed, and that could melt the material of the chamber.

I had a look through the internet and I found the following, of which I don't really understand the difference. I know that the typical muffle furnace is not suitable, but why you need different furnaces for each procedure?

Assay furnace :Heating elements siliconit, temperature 1300 ℃, equipped with digital display temperature controller (Brand Name: BH Code: SX2-8-13)

Cupellation furnace:Heating element furnace wire,the temperature is 1000 ℃, equipped with digital display temperature controller (brand name: BH,Code: SX2-8-10 )

I am looking forward for any answer. Thank you in advance.
 
fireguy

fireguy

Supermoderator
#4
fireguy: Thank you for your answer. I had a contact with the company, but they said that the specific furnace does not have the ventilation needed, and that could melt the material of the chamber.

I had a look through the internet and I found the following, of which I don't really understand the difference. I know that the typical muffle furnace is not suitable, but why you need different furnaces for each procedure?

Assay furnace :Heating elements siliconit, temperature 1300 ℃, equipped with digital display temperature controller (Brand Name: BH Code: SX2-8-13)

Cupellation furnace:Heating element furnace wire,the temperature is 1000 ℃, equipped with digital display temperature controller (brand name: BH,Code: SX2-8-10 )

I am looking forward for any answer. Thank you in advance.
Furnaces with Silicon Carbide heating elements are excellent furnaces, but very expensive and very large. You can see an example here (there are others available but this is an example):
www.lmine.com/product/26637X.html

You may also want to consider this furnace. It has resistance elements in a "U" shape and has an excellent ventilation system. Again, it is quite expensive and large:
www.lmine.com/product/266200.html

How many assays a day will be run? This may help narrow down the proper furnace.

Mark
 
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