Use Of Modified Rosenhain Furnace For Thermal Analysis

IN a paper read before the Institute of Metals, Rosenhain 1 described a new type of furnace designed primarily for the thermal analysis of metals by the inverse-rate method and used by him in the metallurgical department of the National Physical Laboratory with considerable success. In his discussion of this furnace, Rosenhain pointed out some difficulties met with in its operation, such as uniformity of rate of heating or cooling being inadequate for the degree of accuracy aimed at. To overcome this difficulty, he suggested, in place of motor propulsion, a gravity drive controlled by a"hydraulic cylinder with a relief valve whose width of opening can he regulated to allow of any desired rate of motion." The authors, in constructing a thermal-analysis furnace of Rosenhain's type, have therefore followed this suggestion and also added certain features that increase somewhat the convenience and simplicity of its operation. Requests for information regarding this furnace and the highly satisfactory results obtained from its use, it is believed, justify describing its construction and operation in sufficient detail to make possible its duplication or improvement. Description of Furnace.-The details of the furnace construction are shown in Fig. 1, which is drawn to scale. The heating tube is of /4 in. (6.35 mm.) wall "alundum" heated at the upper end by seventeen turns of 0.52 mm. platinum wire, which is coated with "alundum" cement supplied for this purpose. The cement coating is essential when a high temperature (over 1000° C.) is required, as it prevents hot spots with the resulting burning out of the heater. This platinum-wire winding, unlike "nichrome," is entirely satisfactory for temperatures of at least 1000° C. It has been maintained at that temperature continuously for 2 months and shows no signs of deterioration. This temperature is maintained by a current of 5 amp. drawn from 30 volts potential, so its necessarily continuous operation is quite economical.