Importance

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Abstract

There is disclosed a multiple module furnace and system for aerospace application useful for conducting high temperature experiments and treatments of materials, particularly for alloying of metals. The furnace comprises a frame having a plurality of receptacles to receive a like plurality of furnace modules. Each furnace module has thermal insulation and thermal isolating means, an electrical resistance heater and a sample cavity which receives a plurality of sample containing crucibles. Each module is also provided with thermocouples at various locations to monitor and control the treatment. The system is highly autonomous and self-contained with its own supply of heat exchange and quench fluid and has a central programmable processor-sequencer to collect and store temperature, gravitational force, and time data, to control the time-temperature processing profile of each furnace module, preferably to maintain isothermal conditions throughout the furnace, by controlling the electrical heater and/or the supply of heat exchange and quench fluids for each module to cool or quench the samples according to a predetermined treatment, and to isolate the furnace from the other modules, the space capsule, and outer space.

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First Claim