What is the difference between a vacuum furnace and a regular furnace?

There are significant differences between vacuum furnaces and ordinary furnaces in multiple aspects, and the following is a detailed comparison:

Work environment:
Vacuum furnace: Heating treatment is carried out under low pressure or even high vacuum conditions, and the pressure inside the furnace chamber is less than one standard atmospheric pressure, thereby achieving a vacuum state.
Ordinary furnace: Heating treatment is carried out in the atmospheric environment, and there is a large amount of gas in the furnace chamber.

Heating method:
Vacuum furnace: Generally, electric heating is used, and heating elements such as resistance wires, silicon carbon rods, silicon molybdenum rods, etc. have a fast heating speed.
Ordinary furnace: There are various heating methods, including electric heating, gas heating, fuel oil heating, etc. The heating speed varies depending on the heating method and fuel type.

Material processing:
Vacuum furnace: mainly used for processing oxygen sensitive materials, such as steel, titanium alloys, etc. It can reduce the impact of gases such as oxygen and water vapor, protect the surface of materials, and improve product quality. The finished product produced by smelting has a low oxygen content, making it particularly suitable for some precious metals that are afraid of oxidation.
Ordinary furnace: suitable for handling materials that are not sensitive to oxygen or other gases, such as aluminum alloys, nickel alloys, etc. The finished product melted has a high oxygen content.

Product application:
Vacuum furnace: suitable for heating materials with high precision and quality requirements, such as precision molds, hard alloys, etc., which can improve the forming accuracy and service life of products.
Ordinary furnace: suitable for heating materials that are not very sensitive to oxygen or other gases, such as castings, steel materials, etc.

Cost and operation:
Vacuum furnace: High cost, difficult to operate, requiring professional technical personnel for operation and maintenance.
Ordinary furnace: Low cost, simple operation, can be adjusted according to different materials and process requirements, and has strong adaptability.

Environmental impact:
Vacuum furnace: Due to reducing the impact of gas, it causes less pollution to the working environment and environment.
Ordinary furnace: There is gas present during the heating process, and it is necessary to protect the working environment, otherwise it will cause certain pollution to the environment.

In summary, there are significant differences between vacuum furnaces and ordinary furnaces in terms of working environment, heating methods, material processing, product application, cost and operation, and environmental impact. The choice of furnace mainly depends on specific processing requirements and product quality requirements.