What types of annealing furnaces are there, and what are their respective characteristics?

Annealing furnaces are equipment utilised for the annealing treatment of metallic materials, encompassing a diverse range of types. These primarily include bogie-hearth annealing furnaces, pit-type vacuum annealing furnaces, aluminium alloy annealing furnaces, bell-type annealing furnaces, mesh-belt stainless steel annealing furnaces, continuous bright annealing furnaces, and atmosphere annealing furnaces. Each type possesses distinctive characteristics and application domains.

Baskets-type annealing furnace: Primarily employed for normalising and annealing heat treatment of copper rods, cast steel components, automotive parts, rollers, steel balls, metal structural elements, and welded assemblies. Characterised by excellent furnace sealing, uniform heating, and precise temperature control, it is suitable for batch processing of large workpieces.

Pit-type vacuum annealing furnace: Suitable for annealing treatment of coiled wire, steel strips, and similar materials. Heating and annealing under vacuum conditions prevents chemical reactions between workpieces and atmospheric oxygen or nitrogen, achieving oxygen-free annealing.

Aluminium Alloy Annealing Furnace: Specialised for isothermal annealing of aluminium alloys and aluminium plates. Features rapid heating, excellent temperature uniformity, and controllable furnace atmosphere, effectively preventing surface oxidation of aluminium alloys.

Bell-type annealing furnace: Widely employed for annealing non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminium alloys) and ferrous metals (carbon steel, silicon steel, alloy steel) in coil, strip, or wire forms. Offers low energy consumption, minimal pollution, high production efficiency, and superior product quality.

Mesh belt stainless steel annealing furnace: Primarily used for continuous annealing and bright finishing of copper, iron, and stainless steel products. Characterised by continuous passage through preheating, heating, holding, slow cooling, and cooling zones, it ensures excellent temperature uniformity and high production efficiency.

Continuous Bright Annealing Furnace: Suitable for continuous bright annealing of metallic materials. Workpieces pass continuously through all zones within the furnace without length restrictions, achieving a bright finish on both inner and outer surfaces. Simultaneously, the protective atmosphere and hot gas circulation within the furnace guarantee temperature uniformity.

Atmosphere annealing furnace: By introducing protective gases into the furnace chamber, oxygen and water vapour levels within the furnace air are maintained below specified limits, thereby achieving material refinement and property enhancement. Widely employed for annealing various castings, forgings, and welded components.

Beyond these common annealing furnace types, specialised variants exist, such as multi-purpose vacuum annealing furnaces, single-crystal vacuum annealing furnaces, and optical film vacuum annealing furnaces. Each is tailored for distinct materials and application scenarios. When selecting an annealing furnace, comprehensive consideration must be given to factors including specific material types, processing requirements, and production scale.