They use low mass insulation systems. These are available as single or multiple zones of control. Lower cost silicon carbide heating elements available. Operate with any atmosphere or vacuum. Microprocessor-based temperature programming and control.
Custom designed units are available.
The Orton gradient Furnace is valuable where a desire exists to study the behavior of materials as a function of temperature. The zone refining furnace is a gradient furnace mounted on a moving table that slowly moves the furnace hot zone over a crystal or other material for zone refining. The independently controlled table is programmed by the user to move the gradient furnace at a controlled, linear speed as slow as 0.5 millimeters per hour. Both horizontal and vertical furnaces are available in tube diameters from inch to 6 inch diameters for operation to 1200 C and 1600 C. Multi-zone furnaces offer additional control over the heated length of the work zone. Two, three or four zones of independent temperature control are possible.