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Case study: Susceptor

With patent to maximum durability

Susceptors (alternatively also known as muffles) are the heart of every heat treatment system and are usually made of robust graphite and CFC . They ensure a homogeneous temperature distribution in the working chamber and thus enable precise, reproducible and energy-efficient heat treatment processes. As large forces act on the areas of the furnace opening when loading and unloading heavy workpieces, they must not only be heat-resistant, but also extremely mechanically resilient. Read here how Graphite Materials has met this challenge.

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Background

Susceptors define the reaction chamber in which materials (e.g. from the automotive or tool industry) are treated, sintered or hardened. Just like the components inside the furnace, the muffle itself must also meet the highest requirements in terms of stability and durability. The components to be treated are placed in the furnace on roller systems and thermally treated there at temperatures of over 1,500 °C. During the process, all components expand thermally. During the process, all components expand thermally. This poses a major challenge for every fastening and every material connection in the susceptor.

Overview

Industry:

Tool, mold and machine construction

Procedure:

Heat treatment

Solution:

Patented susceptor with monolithic end module and continuous base plate

Services:

Consulting, engineering technical documentation, manufacturing

Result:

– Increased service life

– Reduced exchange frequency

– Reliable load capacity in the loading area

The challenge

Conventional susceptors consist of several assembled modules, usually in two parts: a flat base element and a circular segment above it. However, this design has a decisive disadvantage: the mechanical weakness at the loading opening.
The regular insertion and removal of heavy workpieces using a roller system (e.g. carbide blanks) creates large forces, particularly on the first base element. These can lead to cracks or fractures in modular designs, with considerable consequences for production, maintenance and cost-effectiveness.

The goal: Achieving uniform hardness values throughout the entire component

The aim was to develop a new graphite muffle that could withstand high thermal and mechanical requirements without structural weaknesses at the joints in the loading zone. The requirements of the new design were:

  • Higher mechanical load capacity on the critical first module
  • Improvement of thermal stability
  • Reduction in maintenance requirements
  • Compatibility with existing oven systems

Process results

Thanks to the new design, a significantly more robust result has been achieved: A special, one-piece construction of the end modules with stable anchor plate connections combine to form a sustainable overall system that reliably withstands continuous mechanical loads in the area of the loading opening. This concept, patented by Graphite Materials, significantly increases the service life of the susceptor and reduces the replacement frequency.

The result

  • Monolithic end modules: A one-piece manufactured unit consisting of a circular segment and floor surface, significantly more resilient than modular constructions.
  • Continuous base plate:
    Uniform load distribution, less local stresses, better stability.
  • Cross-shaped anchor plate connections:
    High-precision milled fixing points for a secure connection without protruding elements.
  • Simplified production: identical modules at both ends of the graphite muffle simplify production and warehousing.
  • Fewer breakdowns: Significantly reduced material breakage, longer service life, fewer maintenance calls.
  • Reduced maintenance costs: simple replacement of the end segments when replacement is required.

Your contact person

Ansprechpartner Profilbild

Eduard Lassel

Head of Engineering

+49 911 999 01 03-40

eduard.lassel@graphite-materials.com