Western hemisphere’s first high-temperature continuous production microwave furnace now operating

News
September 15, 2010

September 15, 2010

.resized_350x301_Spheric_microwave_furnace_wThe Western Hemisphere’s first high-temperature (1500° C) continuous production microwave furnace is now fully functional at New York’s NanoMaterials Innovation Center (NMIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Alfred Technology Resources, Inc. (ATRI), near the campus of Alfred University. The announcement came from Spheric Technologies, Inc., the Arizona, USA company that sold the SPHERIC/SYNO-THERM system and that has been providing assistance with set-up, training and beta testing.

Joseph Hines, Spheric Technologies Chairman and CEO, said, “This installation is providing valuable exposure for our microwave furnace technology. The NanoMaterials Innovation Center, a magnet for commercial R&D, is the ultimate showcase for our cost-cutting microwave processing system. We are delighted to be associated with an institution that is so highly regarded by academia and industry.”

In Asia, continuous microwave furnaces are used in the chemical synthesis of phosphors for electronics, lighting materials and more; and for sintering electronic components and other critical ceramic items. Penn State University and Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science report that microwave furnaces typically use up to 80% less energy than conventional furnaces, producing stronger, finer-grained parts with less deformation and cracking in as little as one-tenth the time. Spheric Technologies’ continuous and batch microwave furnaces are also well-suited for the sintering of certain powder metal and ceramic materials that require high temperature processing.

A variety of American companies are using the Alfred furnace for proprietary microwave research. For example, Spheric Technologies is performing contract research on the production of ceramic materials for use in the natural resources development industry. Another company is scheduled this month to gauge the system’s utility in producing cement, evaluating energy, time and production cost advantages. A major metals supplier plans to conduct its own metallurgy tests using the furnace. In each case, non-disclosure agreements shield the companies as they evaluate microwave processing to gain a competitive edge in their respective industries.

Alfred University is the most prestigious ceramics school in the country, with a history of collaborating with industry to pioneer and promote the adoption of innovative technologies. The NMIC provides a wide range of cutting-edge microwave sintering and manufacturing equipment. Researchers will use the Spheric Technologies system to synthesize and consolidate nano-sized ceramic powders into multi-layer and monolithic ceramics, while retaining the enhanced properties associated with nano-structured materials and for other high-temperature materials processes.

Jon Wilder, Executive Director of Alfred Technology Resources, commented, “The collaborative efforts of ATRI and its two stakeholders, Alfred University and Corning Incorporated, have enabled the creation of the NanoMaterials Innovation Center. Our vision is to offer a neutral partnering ground to academia and industry for partnering on R&D projects; to promote technology transfer and assist new start-ups that will in turn utilize the incubator and create jobs in the region. The NMIC will be a premier location for this type of R&D due to the unique combination of equipment available in one location and a cost saving factor to companies who would otherwise need to invest substantial dollars to conduct this type of research. Being able to offer use of highly advanced equipment, such as the Spheric Technologies continuous microwave furnace, brings exciting opportunities for ground-breaking technology development.”

More information at: www.spherictech.com

 

News
September 15, 2010

In the latest issue of PM Review…

Download PDF

Extensive Powder Metallurgy industry news coverage, and the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

  • Powder Metallurgy: Discover innovative technologies meeting the demands of vehicle electrification
  • Gevorkyan a.s.: Europe’s fast-growing Powder Metallurgy company achieving success through a diversified customer base
  • Powder Metallurgy in Asia: A status update from the World PM2024 Congress, Yokohama

The latest news from the world of metal powders, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of PM Review, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Join our community

Discover our magazine archive…

The free-to-access PM Review magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of Powder Metallurgy from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading PM part manufacturers, metal powder manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

 

Browse the archive

 

Looking for PM production equipment, metal powders, R&D support and more?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our
advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PM Review magazine.

  • Powders & materials
  • Powder process, classification & analysis
  • PM products
  • Atomisers & powder production technology
  • Compaction presses, tooling & ancillaries
  • Sintering equipment & ancillaries
  • Post-processing
  • Consulting & toll sintering
View online
Share via
Copy link