| There are a variety of uses for laboratory ovens, | | | | Meanwhile, the muffle or tube oven uses indirect |
| particularly in terms of thermal processing applications | | | | heating, in which the material to heat is stored in an |
| such as laboratory work, testing of component and | | | | outside heated refractory container. The muffle oven |
| stability, glassware drying and sterilization. A | | | | uses a space-saving vertical configuration. Compared |
| laboratory oven is a thermal processing unit of lower | | | | to a horizontal configuration, the vertical type usually |
| temperature which is usually at or below 1400 | | | | has a greater height clearance requirement. Vertical |
| degrees. It also does not have refractory insulation. | | | | configuration, however, does not mean the airflow |
| An alternative name for the oven is a kiln. With a | | | | direction. Also known as a truck-in oven, a walk-in is |
| very high temperature, the kiln is used to burn | | | | a bigger batch equipment, which is usually made of |
| ceramics and heat minerals. When burning ceramics, | | | | two doors as well as integral shelves and carts. A |
| the kiln is set at very high heat, usually at 2300 F or | | | | walk-on oven is used to process larger product |
| higher. However, the kiln is ran at a lower | | | | quantities in one batch. |
| temperature when used to dry wood products. | | | | Two other important specifications for laboratory |
| Laboratory ovens are also used for common industrial | | | | ovens are control and heating. Controls can come in |
| processes as well as other applications such as aging, | | | | either programmable or single set point configuration. |
| baking, curing, pre-heating, burn-off, drying, melting, | | | | A programmable laboratory oven can be set to reach |
| hot press, quenching, sintering, soldering, sterilizing and | | | | various temperatures at various time intervals while a |
| others. | | | | single set point oven has a specific point of |
| Temperature range is topmost specification for a | | | | temperature to reach once it is activated. Another |
| laboratory oven. Temperature range is the maximum | | | | important specification, which is heat source can |
| temperature for the laboratory oven to run and still | | | | come in any of a number of common types such as |
| keep its performance rating. The volume of the unit's | | | | arc, induction, combustion, contact, resistance, |
| interior space, when heated, is also a standard that | | | | indirect, natural gas, infrared, rf, propane, steam, |
| needs to be considered. Another important | | | | microwave or oil. |
| consideration when identifying specific oven types is | | | | In addition, another equally important consideration |
| pressure range. | | | | when for an oven specification is atmosphere. There |
| These products can have any one of a number of | | | | are several common types of atmospheres. These |
| configurations which include cabinet, conveyor; | | | | include air, inert, salt bath and reducing. |
| muffle; walk-in and vertical. A cabinet or bench oven | | | | Other common features that comprise laboratory |
| is a small classification of equipment that is set up on | | | | ovens are air filtration, alarms, explosion proof |
| integral stands. Cabinet ovens are commonly used to | | | | construction, logging options, shelving and cooling |
| process product quantities in one batch. On the other | | | | systems. |
| hand, a conveyor or continuous unit tends to lean | | | | Like any other thermal processing unit, one should |
| towards automated greater quantity production of | | | | exercise care and caution when operating lab ovens |
| items that have small to medium sizes. In a conveyor | | | | to avoid accidents from happening. It is important to |
| oven, the kind of system used is dependent on work | | | | be informed first of what to and what not to do |
| volume to be produced, obtainable temperature and | | | | when using a laboratory oven. |
| product line. | | | | |