Endothermic Process and Heat Treatment Furnaces - CO and CO₂ Control Considerations  

Endothermic process and heat treatments are essential for ensuring high-quality metal and alloy products.

Endothermic gas (CO/H₂/N₂) is often used as a ‘neutral’ protective gas or carrier gas during heat treatment process. Monitoring and controlling the furnace gas composition is essential to ensure metallic products retain their desired properties.

Heat treatments are commonly used to alter the physical or chemical properties of materials such as metals and alloys, including steel. Heat treatments result in changes in material microstructures that provide increased hardness, temperature resistance, ductility, and strength.

Although the name 'heat treatment' suggests a simple procedure, process parameters including time, temperature, and atmosphere during heat treatments must be carefully controlled to obtain the desired material characteristics and ensure high-quality products.

This article outlines why CO and CO₂ levels must be precisely controlled, and the best way to measure CO and CO₂ concentrations in endothermic heat treatment furnaces.

Please click here to read the full article online at Edinburgh Sensors.