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Metals and Materials Processing FAQs

Can the increased temperature variability in my annealing furnace be causing the ductility variations in my product? plus minus

It depends on the amount and location of the variability. Variability in the critical annealing parameters—temperature, dew point and atmosphere compositions—can have a dramatic impact on product quality. To help find the source of the variability, record the critical process parameters during production—larger than normal deviations in temperature can affect grain growth, hardness and ductility. Then you can correlate poor quality runs to data trends and identify what may be causing the change in properties.

Installing a process control system to monitor and control these variables can help you reduce variability. A small investment in control technology can provide a large return in reduced production costs and improved quality. Our commercial engineers and extensive experience in process controls can help you improve your process consistency and save money.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

Carbon steel components have been routinely annealed or heat treated in nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres to relieve stress, alter microstructure and/or improve surface appearance for a number of years. The flow rate and composition of nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere to be used for annealing components in furnaces are usually determined by a trial and error approach. Once the atmosphere flow rate and composition that produces parts with acceptable quality have been determined, they are generally fixed for future annealing operations. Although the composition of nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere introduced into a furnace does not change with time, the true reducing or oxidizing potential of the atmosphere inside the furnace changes continuously with time due to leaks and drafts in the furnace, desorption of impurities such as moisture from the surface of components or decomposition of lubricant present on the surface of components being annealed. This continuous change in reducing or oxidizing potential of the atmosphere inside the furnace provides a great difficulty to commercial heat treaters and parts producers to produce annealed components with good and consistent quality and compete effectively in the global market. Therefore, to provide operational flexibility to commercial heat treaters and parts producers in terms of (1) controlling the true reducing or oxidizing potential of the atmosphere inside the furnace and (2) improving quality of annealed components, Air Products has developed an advanced control and monitoring system.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

In the metals processing industry, heat treatment applications are required for producing parts with the desired mechanical and surface properties, as well as for stress relief after mechanical deformation. Today some companies use exothermic or endothermic generators or ammonia dissociates to create the necessary atmospheres. Compared with atmospheres composed of technical gases such as nitrogen and hydrogen, these generated gases have serious disadvantages.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

All grades of stainless steels are iron-based alloys with significant percentages of chromium. Typically, stainless steels contain less than 30% chromium and more than 50% iron. Their stainless characteristics stem from the formation of an invisible, adherent, protective and self-healing chromium-rich oxide (Cr₂O₃) surface film. While stainless steels are resistant to rusting at room temperatures, they're prone to discoloration by oxidation at elevated temperatures due to the presence of chromium and other alloying elements such as titanium and molybdenum.

Factors that contribute to increased oxidation include high dew points, high oxygen and oxides of lead, boron, and nitrides on the surface. For bright stainless steels, process them in a highly reducing atmosphere with a dew point lower than –40°F and a minimum of 25% hydrogen.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

The green color that you see on stainless steel parts is chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃). It forms when there is too much oxygen and/or moisture in the furnace atmosphere, which is usually caused by a water leak, poor atmosphere tightness, or overly low flow rates of atmosphere gas. A dark green-brown color indicates significant levels of free oxygen inside the furnace originated by a large air leakage.

In addition to the traditional steel and copper test, some companies run a piece of stainless through the furnace to check for high moisture and oxygen levels. A better and more precise way of measuring moisture and oxygen levels is to install an oxygen analyzer and dew point meter. It's inexpensive and highly accurate. If a green oxide film is forming on your stainless steel parts, that's an indication that the furnace or atmosphere is not optimized.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

Dezincification is typically defined as the leaching of zinc from copper alloys in an aqueous solution. In thermal processing of brasses (and other zinc-containing alloys), dezincification is the removal of zinc from the metal substrate during thermal processes, like brazing and annealing, typically due to the very low vapor pressure of zinc in the alloys. Dezincification can result in excessive furnace dusting, zinc vapors alloying with other metals, and in extreme cases, loss of alloy properties.

While eliminating dezincification is not always possible, it can be reduced during thermal processing. Controlling temperature, time at temperature, and the furnace atmosphere's reducing potential can help minimize dezincification and improve your thermal processing. However, understanding which variables to change can be a challenge. Air Products' industry specialists, experienced in thermal processing, can help pinpoint the variable(s) that you can regulate to help lower costs and improve productivity by minimizing dezincification.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

Bright annealing of steels requires conditions that are reducing to steel oxides. Traditionally, the Ellingham diagram has been used to predict the conditions that correspond to oxidation of pure metals or reduction of their oxides. This method can be used to predict the conditions that should be reducing to iron oxides and the oxides of the alloying elements added to steels, such as chromium oxide when stainless steels are considered. This traditional approach is not precise because it only uses thermodynamic data for pure metals and their oxides—it ignores the fact that iron and alloying elements form a solid solution. In addition, you can only determine the approximate equilibrium partial pressure ratio of hydrogen and water vapor for oxidation of a specific metal at a particular temperature.

Alternatively, you can use more accurate and convenient diagrams for steels and other alloys, which are created with the help of modern databases and computer programs, such as FactSage™ (thermochemical software and database package developed jointly between Thermfact/CRCT and GTT-Technologies) or Thermo-Calc software. Using the oxidation-reduction curves, presented as dew point of pure hydrogen or nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres versus temperature, you can quickly select the atmosphere for annealing steels without formation of oxides. The diagram in Figure 1 was calculated using FactSage. This diagram shows that oxidation-reduction curves for Fe-18%Cr and Fe-18%Cr-8%Ni systems representing stainless steels are higher than the corresponding Cr/Cr₂O₃ curves. For alloys (e.g. steels), you can achieve more precise calculations using thermodynamic data from both the pure substances (i.e. pure metals and oxides) and solutions databases. Such diagrams can be produced specifically for the steels of interest and variety of atmosphere compositions.

These methods can help you troubleshoot and optimize your annealing operation by balancing hydrogen usage versus product quality.

Figure 1:

What’s the best hydrogen concentration for our nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere for bright annealing of steels?

Liang He - Metals Processing R&D Engineer
Liang He
Metals Processing R&D Engineer, North America
Is my gas purity adequate for my process? plus minus

Industrial gases (such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon) for furnace atmospheres are characterized by their very high purity (>99.995%). Typical impurity levels are much less than 10 parts per million by volume (ppmv) oxygen and less than 3 ppmv moisture (<– 90° F dew point). This purity is typically adequate for many processes involving a wide array of materials. Some materials, though, due to their high reactivity, may require additional purification to reach even lower levels of impurity, especially with gases supplied via bulk or tube trailer supply modes. Some facilities install in-line purifiers as an added precaution against impurities picked up from the houseline. In-line purification typically involves the removal of oxygen and moisture. Sometimes with argon supply, it is necessary to remove trace nitrogen impurities. The choice of purifier is dependent on the gas and the type and amount of impurities to be removed.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Flowmeters must be sized properly for each particular application, type of gas, gas pressure, and operating range. First, make sure that your flowmeter is calibrated for the specific gravity of the gas that you are metering. Check the label or the glass tube of the flowmeter or call the manufacturer to be sure. Second, operate the flowmeter only at the pressure for which it was calibrated. As an example, a variable-area flowmeter calibrated for 80 psi and reading 1000 scfh will really only be delivering 760 scfh if it is operated at 40 psi. This is a 24% error! Third, for best accuracy and to allow room for adjustment, size the flowmeter so that your normal flow rate falls within 30%–70% of full scale. These three steps will help ensure that you have good control over your gas flows and, ultimately, your process.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Traditionally, high-pressure gas cylinders have been the supply mode for users in the low- to medium-volume range. This has left companies vulnerable to safety risks associated with moving cylinders and exposure to high pressure. Consolidating to a centralized microbulk system eliminates the need to handle cylinders and reduces the risk of product mix-up. Further benefits include decreased exposure to high-pressure containers and reduced traffic congestion with less frequent supplier deliveries. Air Products developed the microbulk supply option as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to high-pressure cylinders for nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide supply. In addition to efficient and flexible storage systems, innovative piping solutions are available to help you have a smooth transition from cylinders to microbulk.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer
How can I prevent copper filler metal from spreading away from the brazed joints in my steel parts? plus minus

In furnace brazing, this tendency for the melted copper filler to flash and spread is generally caused by one of four factors:

  • Your brazing zone temperature is set too high. Copper melts at 1984ºF. For carbon steel brazing, the brazing zone should be set at 2050 ±10ºF.
  • The reducing power of your atmosphere is too high, caused by too low a dew point or too high a concentration of hydrogen in the brazing zone. For carbon steels in a muffle type furnace, dew points should range from -10ºF to +10ºF, with 5% hydrogen.
  • The joint gap is too wide, producing lower capillary forces for the melted copper to flow into the joint; this causes the copper to flow away from the joint.
  • The part is in the "hot zone" of your furnace for too long.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Since the reducing potential of a hydrogen-based furnace atmosphere is defined by the ratio of pH₂O, the first answer that comes to most people’s minds is “yes.” And, in some cases, they are correct. Lower dew point readings (lower pH₂O) lead to more reducing conditions and, in many cases, better furnace atmosphere performance. However, there are situations where that is not always the case. One example of that is hydrogen-based belt furnace atmospheres where the dew point can reach values drier than –50°F or even –60°F under certain conditions. The reducing potential of this atmosphere is more than enough for the typical parts processed, but it can lead to unnecessarily strong reducing conditions that decrease belt life. Another example might be a brazing atmosphere that is too reducing and prone to excessive braze flow. Air Products’ new Atmosphere Humidification System allows for precise and consistent moisture additions to furnace atmospheres for just the right amount of moisture to improve belt life performance and/or braze flow while still maintaining adequate reducing conditions for the sintering or brazing operations being performed.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Dezincification is typically defined as the leaching of zinc from copper alloys in an aqueous solution. In thermal processing of brasses (and other zinc-containing alloys), dezincification is the removal of zinc from the metal substrate during thermal processes, like brazing and annealing, typically due to the very low vapor pressure of zinc in the alloys. Dezincification can result in excessive furnace dusting, zinc vapors alloying with other metals, and in extreme cases, loss of alloy properties.

While eliminating dezincification is not always possible, it can be reduced during thermal processing. Controlling temperature, time at temperature, and the furnace atmosphere's reducing potential can help minimize dezincification and improve your thermal processing. However, understanding which variables to change can be a challenge. Air Products' industry specialists, experienced in thermal processing, can help pinpoint the variable(s) that you can regulate to help lower costs and improve productivity by minimizing dezincification.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

All grades of stainless steels are iron-based alloys with significant percentages of chromium. Typically, stainless steels contain less than 30% chromium and more than 50% iron. Their stainless characteristics stem from the formation of an invisible, adherent, protective, and self-healing chromium-rich oxide (Cr₂O₃) surface film. While stainless steels are resistant to rusting at room temperatures, they're prone to discoloration by oxidation at elevated temperatures due to the presence of chromium and other alloying elements such as titanium and molybdenum.

Factors that contribute to increased oxidation include high dew points, high oxygen and oxides of lead, boron, and nitrides on the surface. For bright stainless steels, process them in a highly reducing atmosphere with a dew point lower than –40°F and a minimum of 25% hydrogen.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

For sintering and brazing atmospheres in a continuous belt type furnace with open ends, you must follow NFPA 86 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces. Typically, atmospheres containing greater than 4% hydrogen in nitrogen are considered flammable. In fact, any mixed atmosphere—even if it contains less than 4% hydrogen—is considered “indeterminate” and must be treated as if it were flammable.

NFPA 86 recommends you satisfy the following conditions before introducing any flammable or indeterminate atmosphere into the furnace:

  • At least one zone of the furnace must be hotter than 1400°F.
  • The furnace must be purged with an inert gas until the atmosphere analysis indicates it’s below 50% of its LEL (lower explosive limit). General recommendation is to use five volume changes of inert gas flow.
  • There must be visible indication of purge flow. Plus, purge piping should have normally open solenoid valves.
  • The atmosphere system should be designed with interlocks so the flammable gases are shut off using normally closed solenoid valves in the event of power failure, a temperature drop below 1400°F, or insufficient flow of the main atmosphere component.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

That depends on your process. Nitrogen-based atmospheres for metals processing have been successfully proven over many years, and due to the enormous range of requirements in furnaces for various materials and surface needs, the use of gas mixtures is now an industry standard. Different products can tolerate differing concentrations of oxidizing components in the furnace atmosphere due to additional reducing or reactive components in the blend. For this reason, the use of on-site generated nitrogen with residual amounts of oxygen can be tolerated. By understanding your oxygen tolerance levels we can help you reduce your costs.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

A simple copper/ steel test can differentiate oxidation by air (O₂) or water (H₂O). The test is performed by sending a piece of clean bright copper strip alongside a piece of clean carbon steel strip through the continuous furnace and observing the oxidation on each test coupon. Take care to keep the furnace temperature below 1981˚F, the melting point of copper. The steel strip will discolor or oxidize if the atmosphere has an air or water leak; however, the copper strip will only oxidize if an air leak is present. You can use this test for nitrogen-based or generated type atmospheres like endothermic or dissociated ammonia. And it can be done without oxygen or dew point analyzers.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Yes, leaks in any pressurized high-purity gas line can cause intermittent oxidation. There are several possible causes. One is through retrodiffusion—the movement of impurities from the surrounding air to a high-pressure, low-impurity gas houseline. This is driven by concentration gradients, not pressure gradients, and is aggravated by changes in flow rate, pressure or piping temperature.

Air Products industry specialists can help you determine the cause of your problem. Since the oxidation is intermittent, you’ll need to continuously monitor your nitrogen houseline for leaks with a trace oxygen analyzer. For combustible gas lines, a combustible gas sniffer can also be used. Once impurities are found, the source of the leak can be identified using various techniques, including soap bubble testing, static pressure testing or helium mass spectrometry. Leaks often occur in weld cracks, mechanical joints, valve packing and loose fittings.

Industrial gas storage tanks and vaporizers

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer
How can I achieve a more homogeneous surface hardness in controlled-atmosphere carburizing? plus minus

In atmosphere carburized parts, especially bulk loads, variations in surface hardness might appear. This is a common issue caused by insufficient atmosphere circulation inside the furnace chamber and through the load. At Air Products, our atmosphere flow modelling capabilities enable us to simulate and understand these technical barriers. Our technical experts can work with you to find the best way to modify the load set-up, thus improving the carburizing results.

Guido Plicht
Guido Plicht
Commercial Technology Manager - Europe

Carburizing and other carbon control atmospheres all require a source of CO to facilitate the diffusion of carbon into the surface of the metal. One source is through endothermic atmosphere generation, in which air and natural gas are reacted in an external generator to form a gas composed of 20% CO, 40% H₂, and 40% N₂, with trace amounts of CO₂ and moisture.

Another source of CO is the introduction of a blend of 40% nitrogen and 60% methanol into the furnace, which forms a gas of the same composition produced endothermically. The heat of the furnace dissociates the methanol (CH₃OH) into CO and H₂, which then blends with the nitrogen. Here's how to calculate the amount of methanol needed. For 1000 scf of atmosphere, as an example, 40% or 400 scf will be nitrogen, according to the ratios above. The remaining 60% or 600 scf will be made up of dissociated methanol. Since one gallon of methanol dissociates into approximately 240 scf of gas, 2.5 gallons of methanol would be needed to dissociate into the required 600 scf of atmosphere.

Liang He - Metals Processing R&D Engineer
Liang He
Metals Processing R&D Engineer, North America

Refractories are affected by atmospheres in several ways. Although stable at room temperature, a number of oxides are reduced in the presence of hydrogen or free carbon at elevated temperatures—thus shortening their lives. The customer's process and desired output dictate the design atmosphere. However, crystallography of the ceramic material will have a major impact on its resistance to that atmosphere. By understanding the effects of atmosphere gases on refractories and by selecting refractories that are more stable at operating temperatures and in the presence of specific gas species, you can enhance the performance of your furnace. Air Products' engineers can work with you to optimize your process.

Liang He - Metals Processing R&D Engineer
Liang He
Metals Processing R&D Engineer, North America

This is a question that comes up frequently. When troubleshooting for oxidation in a continuous furnace atmosphere, it's important to measure both oxygen level and dew point. Here's why.

The dew point is a measure of the moisture content of a gas and is the temperature at which water vapor in a sample gas starts to condense. Oxygen concentration is simply that—a measure of the partial pressure of oxygen.

When a gas sample is extracted from the hot zone of a furnace for analysis, reactive gases like H₂, CO, or CₓHᵧ have already combined with any O₂ present to produce moisture and other gaseous components. As a result, depending on the furnace temperature and how the sample is obtained, your analyzer will often display a low oxygen level. In most applications, a low oxygen level and a low dew point are required to control the process and prevent oxidation.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

When checking a continuous furnace, oxidation in the preheat section has a matte or frosted appearance and is usually caused by air infiltration from the entrance of the furnace. Hot zone oxidation may cause scaly or blistered parts. This generally occurs from elevated moisture or oxygen levels due to improper atmosphere balance or water/air leaks in the cooling zone. Cooling zone oxidation typically results in a smooth, sometimes shiny discoloration—poor curtain design, excessive belt speed, water leaks, or insufficient atmosphere flow rates are possible causes.

In batch furnaces, start by identifying the oxidant causing the problem. Flowing nitrogen and measuring the oxygen and moisture levels can give an indication of the oxidant involved. Then a review of typical leak sources, such as seals, fittings, unions, and weld joints, usually leads to discovery of the leak source.

Guido Plicht
Guido Plicht
Commercial Technology Manager - Europe
How can I provide customer documentation proving my heat treat process was controlled while treating their products? plus minus

Quality programs that require information about how you process a part for your customers are becoming more common. Understanding what variables you control and what effect they have on your parts is an important step in starting this effort. Variables such as temperature, time, atmosphere flow rates and composition, and utility consumption are good places to start tracking.

A monitoring system makes this task easier day to day and increases the accuracy of recorded data. Air Products' atmosphere controls and process intelligence automates data monitoring and collection and provides additional benefits such as remote monitoring of your process, alarming to indicate problems, and custom report generation for customer documentation. Our engineers help you determine what variables are important for you to monitor and then customize a system that fits both your specifications and those of your customers.

Benefits such as reduced scrap, elimination of manual data collection, faster problem troubleshooting, and increased product quality can enhance your customer relationship and help your bottom line.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America
Can we conserve energy and increase savings by converting to a synthetic nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere? plus minus

In one word—yes. You can lower costs and reduce waste by converting from a generated atmosphere such as endothermic or dissociated ammonia to a synthetic nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere.

Here’s how:

  • Using and paying for the atmosphere only when your furnace is in production, rather than paying for fixed output volumes with generators—even if you use less than the set volume.
  • Reducing the hydrogen concentration to a range of 2%–10% while maintaining the high reducing potential that results from the very low dew point of nitrogen.
  • Zoning the atmosphere by adding only the required gas blend and volume independently in the different zones of the furnace.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

There are numerous benefits of using a nitrogen-based atmosphere system, including:

  • Independence from natural gas and maintenance of generators.
  • Increased flexibility to change atmosphere compositions and flow rates to suit the process and material requirements.
  • Improved safety due to automatic nitrogen purge capabilities.
  • Elimination of toxic components such as carbon monoxide and ammonia, associated with the use of endothermic generators and ammonia dissociators.
  • Minimizing the amount of hydrogen needed to get the correct reducing power—due to nitrogen’s low dew point.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Nitrogen-DA dilution can be a cost-effective alternative to 100% DA. Since many materials being processed do not require the 75 percent hydrogen content in DA, you can reduce your atmosphere cost by using less costly nitrogen to dilute your DA. The use of nitrogen also provides an economical means for purging in addition to a lower cost for furnace idling. Also, using hauled-in hydrogen with nitrogen to replace DA can be cost-competitive and completely eliminate ammonia—a toxic, more expensive gas.

Air Products applications engineers can help you compare atmosphere costs and  recommend ways to reduce atmosphere consumption to further reduce your total cost of ownership.

Liquid nitrogen storage tanks and vaporizers

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Oxygen from air can diffuse or infiltrate your furnace from the front and exit ends, causing problems such as oxidation, decarburization, under-sintering or inadequate braze quality. Here are some methods to reduce oxygen infiltration:

  • Use adequate total atmosphere flow to have a slightly positive pressure inside the furnace. Typically, a flow of about 70 to 100 scfh per inch of belt width is enough for door openings less than 3 inches.
  • Install a flame curtain at the front end, preferably attached to the bottom of the door, with the flames shooting down onto the parts—ensuring complete coverage of the front end opening.
  • Install a good fiber type curtain with an additional nitrogen spray curtain at the exit end.
  • Ensure the exhaust stacks are separated from the furnace and don’t cause differential suction on the furnace’s atmosphere.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

All grades of stainless steels are iron-based alloys with significant percentages of chromium. Typically, stainless steels contain less than 30% chromium and more than 50% iron. Their stainless characteristics stem from the formation of an invisible, adherent, protective, and self-healing chromium-rich oxide (Cr₂O₃) surface film. While stainless steels are resistant to rusting at room temperatures, they're prone to discoloration by oxidation at elevated temperatures due to the presence of chromium and other alloying elements such as titanium and molybdenum.

Factors that contribute to increased oxidation include high dew points, high oxygen and oxides of lead, boron, and nitrides on the surface. For bright stainless steels, process them in a highly reducing atmosphere with a dew point lower than –40°F and a minimum of 25% hydrogen.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

This is a question that comes up frequently. When troubleshooting for oxidation in a continuous furnace atmosphere, it's important to measure both oxygen level and dew point. Here's why.

The dew point is a measure of the moisture content of a gas and is the temperature at which water vapor in a sample gas starts to condense. Oxygen concentration is simply that—a measure of the partial pressure of oxygen.

When a gas sample is extracted from the hot zone of a furnace for analysis, reactive gases like H₂, CO, or CₓHᵧ have already combined with any O₂ present to produce moisture and other gaseous components. As a result, depending on the furnace temperature and how the sample is obtained, your analyzer will often display a low oxygen level. In most applications, a low oxygen level and a low dew point are required to control the process and prevent oxidation.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer
I know my flowmeter tells me that I have a certain gas flow rate, but how can I be sure? plus minus

Flowmeters must be sized properly for each particular application, type of gas, gas pressure, and operating range. First, make sure that your flowmeter is calibrated for the specific gravity of the gas that you are metering. Check the label or the glass tube of the flowmeter or call the manufacturer to be sure. Second, operate the flowmeter only at the pressure for which it was calibrated. As an example, a variable-area flowmeter calibrated for 80 psi and reading 1000 scfh will really only be delivering 760 scfh if it is operated at 40 psi. This is a 24% error! Third, for best accuracy and to allow room for adjustment, size the flowmeter so that your normal flow rate falls within 30%–70% of full scale. These three steps will help ensure that you have good control over your gas flows and, ultimately, your process.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Traditionally, high-pressure gas cylinders have been the supply mode for users in the low- to medium-volume range. This has left companies vulnerable to safety risks associated with moving cylinders and exposure to high pressure. Consolidating to a centralized microbulk system eliminates the need to handle cylinders and reduces the risk of product mix-up. Further benefits include decreased exposure to high-pressure containers and reduced traffic congestion with less frequent supplier deliveries. Air Products developed the microbulk supply option as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to high-pressure cylinders for nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide supply. In addition to efficient and flexible storage systems, innovative piping solutions are available to help you have a smooth transition from cylinders to microbulk.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer
I know my flowmeter tells me that I have a certain gas flow rate, but how can I be sure? plus minus

Flowmeters must be sized properly for each particular application, type of gas, gas pressure, and operating range. First, make sure that your flowmeter is calibrated for the specific gravity of the gas that you are metering. Check the label or the glass tube of the flowmeter or call the manufacturer to be sure. Second, operate the flowmeter only at the pressure for which it was calibrated. As an example, a variable-area flowmeter calibrated for 80 psi and reading 1000 scfh will really only be delivering 760 scfh if it is operated at 40 psi. This is a 24% error! Third, for best accuracy and to allow room for adjustment, size the flowmeter so that your normal flow rate falls within 30%–70% of full scale. These three steps will help ensure that you have good control over your gas flows and, ultimately, your process.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Industrial gases (such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon) for furnace atmospheres are characterized by their very high purity (>99.995%). Typical impurity levels are much less than 10 parts per million by volume (ppmv) oxygen and less than 3 ppmv moisture (<– 90° F dew point). This purity is typically adequate for many processes involving a wide array of materials. Some materials, though, due to their high reactivity, may require additional purification to reach even lower levels of impurity, especially with gases supplied via bulk or tube trailer supply modes. Some facilities install in-line purifiers as an added precaution against impurities picked up from the houseline. In-line purification typically involves the removal of oxygen and moisture. Sometimes with argon supply, it is necessary to remove trace nitrogen impurities. The choice of purifier is dependent on the gas and the type and amount of impurities to be removed.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

There are many aspects of a flow control or blend panel that require periodic maintenance for proper functionality—especially those related to its safe operation. You should check the operation of the solenoids to help verify that the combustible gas flow is automatically turning off and the inert gas purge is automatically turning on as intended. They should be tested in accordance with recommended maintenance frequency—typically every six months. Plus, you should rebuild the solenoids as needed. It’s also important to check the purge timer setpoint to help confirm that it can adequately purge the furnace. And you should verify and document the low-flow alarm setpoints on the inert gas purge and process flows. These are just some of the items that should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer
Can I determine if the oxidation in the cooling section of my continuous furnace is caused by air ingress or a water leak? plus minus

A simple copper/ steel test can differentiate oxidation by air (O₂) or water (H₂O). The test is performed by sending a piece of clean bright copper strip alongside a piece of clean carbon steel strip through the continuous furnace and observing the oxidation on each test coupon. Take care to keep the furnace temperature below 1981˚F, the melting point of copper. The steel strip will discolor or oxidize if the atmosphere has an air or water leak; however, the copper strip will only oxidize if an air leak is present. You can use this test for nitrogen-based or generated type atmospheres like endothermic or dissociated ammonia. And it can be done without oxygen or dew point analyzers.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

When checking a continuous furnace, oxidation in the preheat section has a matte or frosted appearance and is usually caused by air infiltration from the entrance of the furnace. Hot zone oxidation may cause scaly or blistered parts. This generally occurs from elevated moisture or oxygen levels due to improper atmosphere balance or water/air leaks in the cooling zone. Cooling zone oxidation typically results in a smooth, sometimes shiny discoloration—poor curtain design, excessive belt speed, water leaks, or insufficient atmosphere flow rates are possible causes.

In batch furnaces, start by identifying the oxidant causing the problem. Flowing nitrogen and measuring the oxygen and moisture levels can give an indication of the oxidant involved. Then a review of typical leak sources, such as seals, fittings, unions, and weld joints, usually leads to discovery of the leak source.

Guido Plicht
Guido Plicht
Commercial Technology Manager - Europe

In one word—yes. You can lower costs and reduce waste by converting from a generated atmosphere such as endothermic or dissociated ammonia to a synthetic nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere.

Here’s how:

  • Using and paying for the atmosphere only when your furnace is in production, rather than paying for fixed output volumes with generators—even if you use less than the set volume.
  • Reducing the hydrogen concentration to a range of 2%–10% while maintaining the high reducing potential that results from the very low dew point of nitrogen.
  • Zoning the atmosphere by adding only the required gas blend and volume independently in the different zones of the furnace.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

There are numerous benefits of using a nitrogen-based atmosphere system, including:

  • Independence from natural gas and maintenance of generators.
  • Increased flexibility to change atmosphere compositions and flow rates to suit the process and material requirements.
  • Improved safety due to automatic nitrogen purge capabilities.
  • Elimination of toxic components such as carbon monoxide and ammonia, associated with the use of endothermic generators and ammonia dissociators.
  • Minimizing the amount of hydrogen needed to get the correct reducing power—due to nitrogen’s low dew point.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Oxygen from air can diffuse or infiltrate your furnace from the front and exit ends, causing problems such as oxidation, decarburization, under-sintering or inadequate braze quality. Here are some methods to reduce oxygen infiltration:

  • Use adequate total atmosphere flow to have a slightly positive pressure inside the furnace. Typically, a flow of about 70 to 100 scfh per inch of belt width is enough for door openings less than 3 inches.
  • Install a flame curtain at the front end, preferably attached to the bottom of the door, with the flames shooting down onto the parts—ensuring complete coverage of the front end opening.
  • Install a good fiber type curtain with an additional nitrogen spray curtain at the exit end.
  • Ensure the exhaust stacks are separated from the furnace and don’t cause differential suction on the furnace’s atmosphere.
​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

This is a question that comes up frequently. When troubleshooting for oxidation in a continuous furnace atmosphere, it's important to measure both oxygen level and dew point. Here's why.

The dew point is a measure of the moisture content of a gas and is the temperature at which water vapor in a sample gas starts to condense. Oxygen concentration is simply that—a measure of the partial pressure of oxygen.

When a gas sample is extracted from the hot zone of a furnace for analysis, reactive gases like H₂, CO, or CₓHᵧ have already combined with any O₂ present to produce moisture and other gaseous components. As a result, depending on the furnace temperature and how the sample is obtained, your analyzer will often display a low oxygen level. In most applications, a low oxygen level and a low dew point are required to control the process and prevent oxidation.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Yes, leaks in any pressurized high-purity gas line can cause intermittent oxidation. There are several possible causes. One is through retrodiffusion—the movement of impurities from the surrounding air to a high-pressure, low-impurity gas houseline. This is driven by concentration gradients, not pressure gradients, and is aggravated by changes in flow rate, pressure or piping temperature.

Air Products industry specialists can help you determine the cause of your problem. Since the oxidation is intermittent, you’ll need to continuously monitor your nitrogen houseline for leaks with a trace oxygen analyzer. For combustible gas lines, a combustible gas sniffer can also be used. Once impurities are found, the source of the leak can be identified using various techniques, including soap bubble testing, static pressure testing or helium mass spectrometry. Leaks often occur in weld cracks, mechanical joints, valve packing and loose fittings.

Industrial gas storage tanks and vaporizers

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

All grades of stainless steels are iron-based alloys with significant percentages of chromium. Typically, stainless steels contain less than 30% chromium and more than 50% iron. Their stainless characteristics stem from the formation of an invisible, adherent, protective, and self-healing chromium-rich oxide (Cr₂O₃) surface film. While stainless steels are resistant to rusting at room temperatures, they're prone to discoloration by oxidation at elevated temperatures due to the presence of chromium and other alloying elements such as titanium and molybdenum.

Factors that contribute to increased oxidation include high dew points, high oxygen and oxides of lead, boron, and nitrides on the surface. For bright stainless steels, process them in a highly reducing atmosphere with a dew point lower than –40°F and a minimum of 25% hydrogen.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Nitrogen-DA dilution can be a cost-effective alternative to 100% DA. Since many materials being processed do not require the 75 percent hydrogen content in DA, you can reduce your atmosphere cost by using less costly nitrogen to dilute your DA. The use of nitrogen also provides an economical means for purging in addition to a lower cost for furnace idling. Also, using hauled-in hydrogen with nitrogen to replace DA can be cost-competitive and completely eliminate ammonia—a toxic, more expensive gas.

Air Products applications engineers can help you compare atmosphere costs and  recommend ways to reduce atmosphere consumption to further reduce your total cost of ownership.

Liquid nitrogen storage tanks and vaporizers

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

In its liquid state, nitrogen is -320 degrees Fahrenheit! This makes it one of the most effective coolants available. Depending on your process, liquid nitrogen can provide temperature control, shorten cycle time, and improve product quality. Nitrogen is also a green product, as it leaves no residue and is sourced from the air we breathe. It’s used in many industrial processes and can be adapted to heat treating, machining, thermal spray, and many other applications that have problems related to excess heat.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

That depends on your process. Nitrogen-based atmospheres for metals processing have been successfully proven over many years, and due to the enormous range of requirements in furnaces for various materials and surface needs, the use of gas mixtures is now an industry standard. Different products can tolerate differing concentrations of oxidizing components in the furnace atmosphere due to additional reducing or reactive components in the blend. For this reason, the use of on-site generated nitrogen with residual amounts of oxygen can be tolerated. By understanding your oxygen tolerance levels we can help you reduce your costs.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer
My nitrogen-hydrogen flow control panel seems to be working properly, but is there anything I should be checking? plus minus

There are many aspects of a flow control or blend panel that require periodic maintenance for proper functionality—especially those related to its safe operation. You should check the operation of the solenoids to help verify that the combustible gas flow is automatically turning off and the inert gas purge is automatically turning on as intended. They should be tested in accordance with recommended maintenance frequency—typically every six months. Plus, you should rebuild the solenoids as needed. It’s also important to check the purge timer setpoint to help confirm that it can adequately purge the furnace. And you should verify and document the low-flow alarm setpoints on the inert gas purge and process flows. These are just some of the items that should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Flowmeters must be sized properly for each particular application, type of gas, gas pressure, and operating range. First, make sure that your flowmeter is calibrated for the specific gravity of the gas that you are metering. Check the label or the glass tube of the flowmeter or call the manufacturer to be sure. Second, operate the flowmeter only at the pressure for which it was calibrated. As an example, a variable-area flowmeter calibrated for 80 psi and reading 1000 scfh will really only be delivering 760 scfh if it is operated at 40 psi. This is a 24% error! Third, for best accuracy and to allow room for adjustment, size the flowmeter so that your normal flow rate falls within 30%–70% of full scale. These three steps will help ensure that you have good control over your gas flows and, ultimately, your process.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Traditionally, high-pressure gas cylinders have been the supply mode for users in the low- to medium-volume range. This has left companies vulnerable to safety risks associated with moving cylinders and exposure to high pressure. Consolidating to a centralized microbulk system eliminates the need to handle cylinders and reduces the risk of product mix-up. Further benefits include decreased exposure to high-pressure containers and reduced traffic congestion with less frequent supplier deliveries. Air Products developed the microbulk supply option as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to high-pressure cylinders for nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide supply. In addition to efficient and flexible storage systems, innovative piping solutions are available to help you have a smooth transition from cylinders to microbulk.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Industrial gases (such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon) for furnace atmospheres are characterized by their very high purity (>99.995%). Typical impurity levels are much less than 10 parts per million by volume (ppmv) oxygen and less than 3 ppmv moisture (<– 90° F dew point). This purity is typically adequate for many processes involving a wide array of materials. Some materials, though, due to their high reactivity, may require additional purification to reach even lower levels of impurity, especially with gases supplied via bulk or tube trailer supply modes. Some facilities install in-line purifiers as an added precaution against impurities picked up from the houseline. In-line purification typically involves the removal of oxygen and moisture. Sometimes with argon supply, it is necessary to remove trace nitrogen impurities. The choice of purifier is dependent on the gas and the type and amount of impurities to be removed.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

The amenability of on-site gas generation involves many factors—nitrogen flow and purity are the most important ones. Flows with a steady or sufficient baseline rate can be great fits for on-sites. Periodic or erratic flow patterns can be amenable if the volumes, pressure and purity are sufficient to allow gas storage that covers peak flows. Also, the lower the purity requirement, the greater the amenability—although high purity is amenable at higher volumes. Other factors include local power cost and pressure required. There are no firm rules defining when to switch from delivery to an on-site. Different on-site options are available to meet your nitrogen requirements, including pressure swing adsorption, membranes or cryogenics. Count on Air Products’ extensive experience in on-site technologies to help you determine your optimal supply mode.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Yes, it's true. In fact, NFPA 86C no longer exists. The requirements for "Industrial Furnaces Using a Special Processing Atmosphere," formally defined NFPA 86C have been incorporated into NFPA 86 as of the 2003 version. Now, NFPA 86 (2019 version available as of this writing) addresses the safety requirements for many types of industrial furnaces, including those typically used for atmospheric and vacuum heat treating (referred to as Class C and D). The previous contents of NFPA 86C are now primarily found in Chapter 13 of NFPA 86.

Many operators of such furnaces use nitrogen gas as both a purge gas and as a component of the process atmosphere. Nitrogen gas is supplied to the process from on-site storage tanks using ambient air to provide the heat to vaporize the liquid nitrogen. This supply mode economically provides very high purity gas at flexible flow rates and does not require any external utilities that may fail in an emergency.

NFPA 86 requires that users of these furnaces include a low temperature alarm panel to indicate an overdraw condition on the ambient air vaporizers used for emergency purging. It additionally requires that tanks containing purge media, such as liquid nitrogen storage tanks be provided with low-level audible and visual alarms to ensure adequate purge volume to provide time for an orderly furnace shut-down. Air Products' nitrogen supply monitoring system is designed to help you comply with these requirements.

Users of furnaces with special processing and flammable atmospheres should fully understand the requirements and recommendations of NFPA 86 and determine how the changes from the old NFPA 86C may affect their furnace operations.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

Nitrogen-DA dilution can be a cost-effective alternative to 100% DA. Since many materials being processed do not require the 75 percent hydrogen content in DA, you can reduce your atmosphere cost by using less costly nitrogen to dilute your DA. The use of nitrogen also provides an economical means for purging in addition to a lower cost for furnace idling. Also, using hauled-in hydrogen with nitrogen to replace DA can be cost-competitive and completely eliminate ammonia—a toxic, more expensive gas.

Air Products applications engineers can help you compare atmosphere costs and  recommend ways to reduce atmosphere consumption to further reduce your total cost of ownership.

Liquid nitrogen storage tanks and vaporizers

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

In its liquid state, nitrogen is -320 degrees Fahrenheit! This makes it one of the most effective coolants available. Depending on your process, liquid nitrogen can provide temperature control, shorten cycle time, and improve product quality. Nitrogen is also a green product, as it leaves no residue and is sourced from the air we breathe. It’s used in many industrial processes and can be adapted to heat treating, machining, thermal spray, and many other applications that have problems related to excess heat.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

That depends on your process. Nitrogen-based atmospheres for metals processing have been successfully proven over many years, and due to the enormous range of requirements in furnaces for various materials and surface needs, the use of gas mixtures is now an industry standard. Different products can tolerate differing concentrations of oxidizing components in the furnace atmosphere due to additional reducing or reactive components in the blend. For this reason, the use of on-site generated nitrogen with residual amounts of oxygen can be tolerated. By understanding your oxygen tolerance levels we can help you reduce your costs.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer
Is it true that NFPA 86C has changed? plus minus

Yes, it's true. In fact, NFPA 86C no longer exists. The requirements for "Industrial Furnaces Using a Special Processing Atmosphere," formally defined NFPA 86C have been incorporated into NFPA 86 as of the 2003 version. Now, NFPA 86 (2019 version available as of this writing) addresses the safety requirements for many types of industrial furnaces, including those typically used for atmospheric and vacuum heat treating (referred to as Class C and D). The previous contents of NFPA 86C are now primarily found in Chapter 13 of NFPA 86.

Many operators of such furnaces use nitrogen gas as both a purge gas and as a component of the process atmosphere. Nitrogen gas is supplied to the process from on-site storage tanks using ambient air to provide the heat to vaporize the liquid nitrogen. This supply mode economically provides very high purity gas at flexible flow rates and does not require any external utilities that may fail in an emergency.

NFPA 86 requires that users of these furnaces include a low temperature alarm panel to indicate an overdraw condition on the ambient air vaporizers used for emergency purging. It additionally requires that tanks containing purge media, such as liquid nitrogen storage tanks be provided with low-level audible and visual alarms to ensure adequate purge volume to provide time for an orderly furnace shut-down. Air Products' nitrogen supply monitoring system is designed to help you comply with these requirements.

Users of furnaces with special processing and flammable atmospheres should fully understand the requirements and recommendations of NFPA 86 and determine how the changes from the old NFPA 86C may affect their furnace operations.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America
I know my flowmeter tells me that I have a certain gas flow rate, but how can I be sure? plus minus

Flowmeters must be sized properly for each particular application, type of gas, gas pressure, and operating range. First, make sure that your flowmeter is calibrated for the specific gravity of the gas that you are metering. Check the label or the glass tube of the flowmeter or call the manufacturer to be sure. Second, operate the flowmeter only at the pressure for which it was calibrated. As an example, a variable-area flowmeter calibrated for 80 psi and reading 1000 scfh will really only be delivering 760 scfh if it is operated at 40 psi. This is a 24% error! Third, for best accuracy and to allow room for adjustment, size the flowmeter so that your normal flow rate falls within 30%–70% of full scale. These three steps will help ensure that you have good control over your gas flows and, ultimately, your process.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Traditionally, high-pressure gas cylinders have been the supply mode for users in the low- to medium-volume range. This has left companies vulnerable to safety risks associated with moving cylinders and exposure to high pressure. Consolidating to a centralized microbulk system eliminates the need to handle cylinders and reduces the risk of product mix-up. Further benefits include decreased exposure to high-pressure containers and reduced traffic congestion with less frequent supplier deliveries. Air Products developed the microbulk supply option as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to high-pressure cylinders for nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide supply. In addition to efficient and flexible storage systems, innovative piping solutions are available to help you have a smooth transition from cylinders to microbulk.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer
For our vacuum furnace, how can we get adequate gas pressure to quench at pressures up to 20 bar? plus minus

There are a number of ways to address the challenge of high pressure gas quench in vacuum furnaces – and a variety of factors to consider in order to achieve the most economical high pressure gas supply solution.

First, you need to know the furnace gas volume required for backfilling. Then, the corresponding surge tank must be properly sized, which requires a balance between the maximum tank operating pressure and its internal volume. This surge tank pressure is one of the key factors that influences the type of gas supply system that is best suited to your operation. Another factor to think about is the estimated monthly volume of gas you’ll use, which is dependent on the number of times all of the furnaces will require a backfill.

Next, is a consideration of the cryogenic gas supply options. Cryogenic systems using high pressure liquid tanks generally result in the least amount of vented gas but are capital intensive and are somewhat limited in pressure due to the critical point of the cryogen (i.e. liquid nitrogen is 473 psig, approximately 32 bar). High pressure liquid tanks generally are standardized at 400 and 600 psig. Switching batch-type high pressure systems utilize less costly standard pressure liquid supply tanks (250 psig), but can have high vent losses as the batch vessels vent down each time. These systems are also typically limited to about 450 psig (31 bar). High pressure liquid pumping systems also use standard pressure liquid tanks, with a cryogenic pump filling high pressure cylinder banks or hydril tubes. These systems have a much higher pressure range (up to as much as 2,300 psig) and if properly specified, have relatively low vent losses, however they often have the highest overall capital cost. Additional factors to consider as part of a complete evaluation include the maintenance costs for each type of system, along with the unit price for the gas.

Air Products applications engineers can work with you to thoroughly understand your parameters. Then, they can help you evaluate the benefits and considerations of each type of supply, in order to deliver a system optimized to your operation.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

We are increasingly asked about surge tank sizing for vacuum furnaces. The shift towards faster quenching through higher pressure backfills has made surge tank selection – size and pressure rating – more critical.

First, you need to determine the required tank operating pressure that will provide the necessary furnace backfill pressure and time to backfill. There are tradeoffs between the tank size, its pressure rating, the resulting stored volume of gas and the cost of the tank. The gas supply system also must be able to provide adequate pressure to refill the tank. There are natural pressure level break points from standard cryogenic based supply systems, such as 200 psig from a standard 250 psig rated liquid cryogenic tank.

Be sure that the ASME approved surge tank is rated for the pressure that you are using and that it is adequately protected from over pressurization. Also, if you’re using a cryogenic supply system, make sure it has a low temperature alarm to prevent embrittlement of the carbon steel surge tanks.

The volume of a surge tank is usually referred to in terms of its gallons of water displacement. Since there are 0.134 cubic feet (ft³) per gallon, a 1,000 gallon surge tank has a volume of 134 ft³. Therefore, for each atmosphere of pressure [(14.7 pounds per square inch (PSI)] there are 134 standard cubic feet (SCF) of gaseous volume available for the backfill. For example, 134 SCF of gaseous volume is available at 14.7 psig, 268 SCF at 29.4 psig and so on.

A surge tank needs to be able to store the proper volume of gas at an adequate pressure level above the backfill pressure of the furnace. For instance, using simple ideal gas laws, if 100 ft³ is required for a 5 barg quench pressure (approx. 72 psig), it would require 600 SCF of gas for a backfill from full vacuum. That’s assuming a minimum pressure of 6 bar is required to provide an adequate flow rate to backfill within the desired time, The resulting surge tank would need to be about 750 gallons with a minimum operating pressure level of approximately 12 barg (175 psig). A tank with a 200 psig maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) rating would be recommended and the actual size would be based on how much overdesign might be desired. A smaller tank could be used with a much higher operating pressure.

With this information as a background and a consultation with an applications engineer, you should be able to determine the required pressure and tank size to properly backfill your furnace.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Yes, leaks in any pressurized high-purity gas line can cause intermittent oxidation. There are several possible causes. One is through retrodiffusion—the movement of impurities from the surrounding air to a high-pressure, low-impurity gas houseline. This is driven by concentration gradients, not pressure gradients, and is aggravated by changes in flow rate, pressure or piping temperature.

Air Products industry specialists can help you determine the cause of your problem. Since the oxidation is intermittent, you’ll need to continuously monitor your nitrogen houseline for leaks with a trace oxygen analyzer. For combustible gas lines, a combustible gas sniffer can also be used. Once impurities are found, the source of the leak can be identified using various techniques, including soap bubble testing, static pressure testing or helium mass spectrometry. Leaks often occur in weld cracks, mechanical joints, valve packing and loose fittings.

Industrial gas storage tanks and vaporizers

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer
How can I avoid decarburization in my sintering process? plus minus

High dew points in endothermic generated sintering atmospheres are a common reason for decarburization. This problem can be overcome by using a controlled nitrogen-diluted endothermic atmosphere or, better still, a controlled nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere.

Nitrogen-based atmospheres have been used for sintering carbon steel components for a number of years. These atmospheres are produced and supplied by using an endothermic generator or by blending pure nitrogen with hydrogen. The use of nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres has been shown to produce parts with consistent quality and properties. However, there are still a number of powder metal parts manufacturers who, anticipating high hydrogen costs, continue to utilize endothermically generated atmospheres for sintering carbon steel components. To help these parts manufacturers increase product quality and consistency without substantially increasing overall atmosphere cost, Air Products initiated a comprehensive experimental program to study sintering of carbon steel components in endothermic and nitrogen-diluted endothermic atmospheres under similar operating conditions in production furnaces.

Guido Plicht
Guido Plicht
Commercial Technology Manager - Europe

This is a question that comes up frequently when troubleshooting for oxidation in a continuous furnace atmosphere. The rising price of nickel, and therefore stainless steel, has made belt life longevity more important than ever. While many variables—including the belt alloy, initial break-in procedure, wire gauge and tracking—impact the life of a stainless steel belt, you can realize dramatic improvements by adjusting the sintering atmosphere.

Air Products' atmosphere process technology has been shown in field service to extend the life of stainless steel belts used in sintering powder metal parts. In general, the atmosphere provides a protective oxide coating on the stainless steel belt while remaining carbon-neutral to your parts. The oxide layer reduces the carbon and nitrogen pickup and helps maintain the desired mechanical properties of the belt. In industry service, the use of this technology has resulted in extending the life of stainless steel mesh belts from 25% to more than 50% over the life that is typically experienced in N₂-H₂ sintering atmospheres. The results of extended belt life: reduced maintenance, less furnace downtime and fewer belts to replace.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

Many processing variables such as powder size, composition and purity; size distribution; and carbon content affect sintered components’ final properties. The type and amount of lubricants, compaction densities, and furnace parameters—temperature, time at temperature, cooling rates, and belt loading—also influence the end results. Most of these variables are determined during the design stage of the component.

The sintering atmosphere is often overlooked as a variable. The atmosphere properties can vary over time. Controlling an atmosphere system’s variables can improve the consistency of sintered properties. The primary variables in an atmosphere system are the atmosphere composition, purity, flow rates and distribution, pressure inside the furnace, exit velocity, stability (external influences), and the door openings.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Nitrogen-based atmospheres have been successfully proven for a wide range of heat treatment processes over many years. They have been adopted as the industry standard due to their ability to produce the right atmosphere composition to ensure high quality parts and do not produce the well known decarburizing problems associated with endothermic generated atmospheres.

Guido Plicht
Guido Plicht
Commercial Technology Manager - Europe

Sintered parts should exit the furnace with a shiny, bright finish. If they don’t, that is a sign of a problem in your process. Oxygen or air may be infiltrating the furnace at the front entrance. Also, if the oxidizing potential in the preheat zone is too high, it can cause oxidation on the powder metal part surface. This oxidized surface reduces as the part travels through the highly reducing atmosphere in the hot zone, causing it to lose its shiny finish and appear dull and matte. In addition to a dulled finish, you may notice lower surface hardness due to the surface decarburization that resulted from the oxidation.

To help solve this problem, you can add a flame curtain at the front end of the furnace. The curtain should be attached to the door to provide full coverage of the front entrance, plus the flame should be directed downwards. You can also control the dew point in the preheat zone so it’s oxidizing enough to facilitate de-lubrication, but does not oxidize the metal.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

To resolve a sooting problem, you must first identify the type of soot. There are three main types: adherent soot; loose, granular soot; and shiny or oily soot. All are associated with hydrocarbons from either lubricants or enriching hydrocarbon gas. Adherent soot looks like a stain and is difficult to remove. It is generally produced by the pyrolysis of lubricant in the preheat zone. Loose, granular soot appears as a black snow on the top of the parts and is produced from lubricant vapors in the hot zone. Shiny soot appears as a uniform black coating on exposed surfaces. The catalytic cracking of natural gas on the parts produces this type of soot.

Once the type of soot is known, the problem can be resolved by evaluating factors such as atmosphere flow, flow balance, preheat dew point, belt speed, belt loading, temperature profile, part density, percent lubricant, and furnace condition.

Powder metal parts entering a sintering furnace

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

For sintering and brazing atmospheres in a continuous belt type furnace with open ends, you must follow NFPA 86 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces. Typically, atmospheres containing greater than 4% hydrogen in nitrogen are considered flammable. In fact, any mixed atmosphere—even if it contains less than 4% hydrogen—is considered “indeterminate” and must be treated as if it were flammable. 

NFPA 86 recommends you satisfy the following conditions before introducing any flammable or indeterminate atmosphere into the furnace:

  • At least one zone of the furnace must be hotter than 1400°F.
  • The furnace must be purged with an inert gas until the atmosphere analysis indicates it’s below 50% of its LEL (lower explosive limit). General recommendation is to use five volume changes of inert gas flow.
  • There must be visible indication of purge flow. Plus, purge piping should have normally open solenoid valves.
  • The atmosphere system should be designed with interlocks so the flammable gases are shut off using normally closed solenoid valves in the event of power failure, a temperature drop below 1400°F, or insufficient flow of the main atmosphere component.

Powder metal parts entering a sintering furnace

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

That depends on your process. Nitrogen-based atmospheres for metals processing have been successfully proven over many years, and due to the enormous range of requirements in furnaces for various materials and surface needs, the use of gas mixtures is now an industry standard. Different products can tolerate differing concentrations of oxidizing components in the furnace atmosphere due to additional reducing or reactive components in the blend. For this reason, the use of on-site generated nitrogen with residual amounts of oxygen can be tolerated. By understanding your oxygen tolerance levels we can help you reduce your costs.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

A simple copper/ steel test can differentiate oxidation by air (O₂) or water (H₂O). The test is performed by sending a piece of clean bright copper strip alongside a piece of clean carbon steel strip through the continuous furnace and observing the oxidation on each test coupon. Take care to keep the furnace temperature below 1981˚F, the melting point of copper. The steel strip will discolor or oxidize if the atmosphere has an air or water leak; however, the copper strip will only oxidize if an air leak is present. You can use this test for nitrogen-based or generated type atmospheres like endothermic or dissociated ammonia. And it can be done without oxygen or dew point analyzers.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

This is a question that comes up frequently. When troubleshooting for oxidation in a continuous furnace atmosphere, it's important to measure both oxygen level and dew point. Here's why.

The dew point is a measure of the moisture content of a gas and is the temperature at which water vapor in a sample gas starts to condense. Oxygen concentration is simply that—a measure of the partial pressure of oxygen.

When a gas sample is extracted from the hot zone of a furnace for analysis, reactive gases like H₂, CO, or CₓHᵧ have already combined with any O₂ present to produce moisture and other gaseous components. As a result, depending on the furnace temperature and how the sample is obtained, your analyzer will often display a low oxygen level. In most applications, a low oxygen level and a low dew point are required to control the process and prevent oxidation.

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer

Yes, leaks in any pressurized high-purity gas line can cause intermittent oxidation. There are several possible causes. One is through retrodiffusion—the movement of impurities from the surrounding air to a high-pressure, low-impurity gas houseline. This is driven by concentration gradients, not pressure gradients, and is aggravated by changes in flow rate, pressure or piping temperature.

Air Products industry specialists can help you determine the cause of your problem. Since the oxidation is intermittent, you’ll need to continuously monitor your nitrogen houseline for leaks with a trace oxygen analyzer. For combustible gas lines, a combustible gas sniffer can also be used. Once impurities are found, the source of the leak can be identified using various techniques, including soap bubble testing, static pressure testing or helium mass spectrometry. Leaks often occur in weld cracks, mechanical joints, valve packing and loose fittings.

Industrial gas storage tanks and vaporizers

​Tom Philips
Tom Philips
Applications Engineer
Could gas purity be the reason for the variability in my thermal spray coating density, hardness and adhesion? plus minus

Gas purity, pressure and flow rate fluctuations can all cause inconsistent coatings. When troubleshooting plasma spray and HVOF applications, it’s important to look for things like properly sized valves, regulators and stainless steel lines from gas source to spray gun, plus bulk gas supply utilization, which provides higher purity and flow consistency than cylinders. Potential trouble spots include inferior rubber gaskets and diaphragms, greasy O-rings, acrylic flowmeters and many quick disconnects. Also, leaks from loose fittings and connections can entrain ambient air, resulting in gas impurities and a safety hazard.

Air Products can help troubleshoot your purity, pressure and flowrate challenges through a diagnostic audit that includes a gas analysis and piping design review.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

Traditional HVOF (High Velocity Oxy-Fuel) systems use a few types of fuels for combustion, typically kerosene, methane (natural gas), propane, propylene and hydrogen. While each fuel has its benefits, hydrogen offers some unique advantages. Because of its higher thermal conductivity, hydrogen achieves the best heat transfer from the flame to the powder particles, despite having an overall lower flame temperature than the hydrocarbons. Excess hydrogen in the flame also creates a reducing atmosphere, which lowers oxide production. Since the stoichiometric reactants of hydrogen and oxygen completely combust, unburned residuals are not deposited on the coating. As the lightest gas with the highest speed of sound properties, hydrogen has the highest potential particle velocity—allowing for higher particle adhesion. Plus you don’t need heating pads in the winter to ensure sufficient fuel flow to your booth as you do with other fuels.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America

In its liquid state, nitrogen is -320 degrees Fahrenheit! This makes it one of the most effective coolants available. Depending on your process, liquid nitrogen can provide temperature control, shorten cycle time, and improve product quality. Nitrogen is also a green product, as it leaves no residue and is sourced from the air we breathe. It’s used in many industrial processes and can be adapted to heat treating, machining, thermal spray, and many other applications that have problems related to excess heat.

Don Bowe
Don Bowe
Applications Engineer

There are only a few types of fuels to use for combustion in traditional HVOF (High Velocity Oxy-Fuel) systems, i.e., hydrogen, kerosene, methane (natural gas), propane and propylene. While each fuel has some distinct advantages, hydrogen offers some unique advantages:

  • Because of its higher thermal conductivity, hydrogen achieves the best heat transfer from the flame to the powder particles despite having an overall lower flame temperature in comparison with the conventional hydrocarbon fuels.
  • The performance of the HVOF process depends on the type of fuel, stoichiometric ratio, and combustion pressure, as well as gun design features. The ability to run rich hydrogen flows creates a reducing atmosphere, which lowers oxide production and further improves the quality of the coating.
  • Due to the complete combustion of the stoichiometric reactants of hydrogen and oxygen, there are no unburned residuals deposited on the coating.

In addition, hydrogen can be delivered at sufficient pressures in tubes and bulk liquid tanks that do not require heating pads during the winter months in order to assure sufficient fuel flow to your HVOF booth.

Mark Lanham
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America