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Muffle Furnace

Muffle Furnace PCE-MOV 500
Muffle Furnace PCE-MOV 500
The high-temperature Muffle Furnace is a professional device for laboratories, research and industry that is characterized by maximum precision and reliability. With a maximum temperature of 1700°C / 3092°F, this Muffle Furnace is ideal for demanding applications such as the sintering of ceramics, the heat treatment of metals and material development in the high-temperature range.

  • Temperature range: 20 ... 1700°C / 68 ... 3092°F
  • Resolution: 0.1°C / 0.18°F
  • Accuracy: ±1°C / 1.8°F
  • Precise temperature control
  • Programmable control
  • High-quality insulation
  • Robust steel construction
Details
Muffle Furnace PCE-MOV 60
Muffle Furnace PCE-MOV 60
This compact Muffle Furnace is ideal for precise applications in the laboratory and in materials testing. With a maximum temperature of 1000°C / 1832°F and a continuous working temperature of up to 900°C / 1652°C, the Muffle Furnace is ideal for sintering processes, annealing tests or material analyses.

  • For temperatures up to 1000°C / 1832°F
  • Heating chamber made of polycrystalline alumina ceramic
  • PID control with ±1°C / 1.8°F accuracy
  • Programmable with up to 30 heating sections
  • Chamber size: 100 x 100 x 100 mm / 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.9 in
Details

 Purchasing advice

What is a muffle furnace?

A muffle furnace is a special high-temperature furnace used in laboratories, industry, and research facilities to heat materials to high temperatures in a controlled manner. A characteristic feature of this type of furnace is the so-called “muffle” – a closed chamber made of heat-resistant material in which the sample is heated indirectly. The heating elements are located outside this chamber, protecting the material from direct contact with flames, heating wires, or exhaust gases. This allows for even temperature distribution and prevents contamination.

The term “muffle” in muffle furnace originally comes from the Middle High German word muofel or muffe, which referred to a closed, heat-resistant chamber or shell. This chamber was used in melting or firing furnaces to protect materials from direct contact with fire, flue gases, or contamination. In medieval metallurgy, the “muffle” was also a type of insert or crucible that shielded sensitive metals such as silver or gold during heating.

In today's muffle furnaces, “muffle” refers to the insulated inner chamber in which samples or materials are placed. It ensures that the heat acts indirectly and evenly on the material – without direct contact with the heating elements or open fire. The name has remained unchanged over the centuries and today symbolizes the closed heating environment that is typical of this type of furnace.

Muffle furnaces reach temperatures of over 1000°C and are suitable for applications such as annealing, sintering, ash determination, or thermal material analysis. They are used in chemistry, metallurgy, ceramics manufacturing, environmental analysis, and food testing, among other areas. Thanks to digital temperature control, precise heating profiles and holding times can be achieved, which is particularly important for sensitive materials.

Their robust design and versatility make muffle furnaces an indispensable tool wherever high temperatures and reliable, reproducible results are required. Modern models often offer additional functions such as protective gas supply, programmable heating profiles, or integrated exhaust filters for special applications.


Design and function of a muffle furnace

A typical muffle furnace consists of the following main components:

  • Insulated furnace chamber: The chamber of the muffle furnace is lined with fireproof material and can withstand high temperatures.
  • Heating elements: Usually made of wire (e.g., Kanthal, silicon carbide) and arranged around the outside of the chamber.
  • Muffle (insert): This chamber shields the sample material and ensures contamination-free heating.
  • Temperature control: Digital control units or programmable temperature controllers ensure precise temperature control.
  • Door mechanism: Front or hinged doors with safety locks allow easy insertion and removal of samples.
  • Exhaust gas routing: Some muffle furnace models include exhaust air systems or catalytic converters to reduce emissions.

When the muffle furnace is in operation, electrical energy is converted into heat by the heating elements. The heat is distributed evenly throughout the muffle chamber, where the material is heated indirectly by heat radiation and convection. The control system allows heating programs, holding times, and cooling rates to be specified, which are crucial for many applications.


Types of muffle furnaces

Muffle furnaces are available in various designs, depending on the temperature range, area of application, and control complexity. The most important types are:

Laboratory muffle furnace

  • Temperature range: Up to approx. 1200°C
  • Application: Ideal for sample combustion, annealing processes, and ash determination.
  • Special features: Compact design, precise control, small sample quantities.

High-temperature muffle furnace

  • Temperature range: Up to 1800 °C
  • Application: Sintering processes, ceramic firing, material testing.
  • Special features: Use of special heating elements such as MoSi2 or graphite.

Industrial muffle furnace

  • Temperature range: Variable, usually 1000–1600 °C
  • Application: Large-scale production, heat treatment of metals, thermal analysis.
  • Special features: Larger chambers, automated processes, robust design.

Muffle furnace with protective gas atmosphere

  • Application: When oxidation-free environments are required (e.g., in powder metallurgy).
  • Function: The chamber is filled with inert gases such as argon or nitrogen.

Ash furnaces

  • Application: Specially designed for determining the residue of organic substances by combustion.
  • Compliance with standards: Complies with international standards such as ASTM, DIN, ISO.

Muffle furnace areas of application

Muffle furnaces are indispensable in chemistry. They are used for ash determination, calcination, or drying substances at high temperatures. In pharmaceutical laboratories, they are also used for thermostability testing of drugs.

In materials testing, muffle furnaces are used for the heat treatment of samples (e.g., annealing, sintering, tempering) as well as for melting analysis or to determine oxidation stability.

Muffle furnaces are necessary for firing and sintering processes in the manufacture and processing of ceramic materials and in glass finishing. They ensure even temperature distribution, which is crucial for the quality of the end product.

Another key area of application is environmental analysis, where muffle furnaces are used to determine the annealing residue and prepare samples for waste and soil analysis.

Here, muffle furnaces are used to determine the ash content of food, an important indicator of mineral content and product purity.

Research institutes use muffle furnaces to conduct experiments, investigate new materials, and test thermal reactions under defined conditions.

What should you look for when buying a muffle furnace?

The selection of a suitable muffle furnace should always be based on the intended use, safety requirements, and economic considerations. The most important selection criteria are:

The maximum operating temperature of the muffle furnace should always be slightly above the required application temperature to prevent wear and ensure temperature reserves. For many standard applications, a muffle furnace up to 1100°C is sufficient, while special applications require 1600°C and above.

The volume of the muffle chamber must be adjusted depending on the sample quantity and size. The uniformity of the temperature distribution in larger usable spaces must also be taken into account.

For many processes, it is crucial how quickly the muffle furnace heats up and how accurately the temperature control works. Modern models offer microprocessor controls with programmable temperature profiles and data logging.

An efficient muffle furnace should have high-quality insulation to minimize energy loss and keep the outer surfaces cool.

Automatic door locking, temperature monitoring, emergency stop switch, and heat-resistant housing are essential for safe operation—especially in continuous operation.

These include, for example:

  • Exhaust gas extractors or catalytic converters
  • Protective gas systems
  • Temperature sensors for samples
  • Software for temperature programs and recordings

A good range of spare parts and easy access to heating elements or sensors facilitate maintenance. The manufacturer's customer service should also be taken into account.