LAC LH06/13 High-Temperature Box Muffle Furnace

Overview

The LAC LH06/13 is a precision-engineered high-temperature box muffle furnace designed for demanding laboratory applications requiring stable thermal conditions up to 1340 °C. Built in the Czech Republic by LAC, a manufacturer with decades of experience in industrial and research-grade thermal equipment, this furnace employs a robust FeCrAl resistance wire heating system embedded within refractory ceramic fiber insulation—ensuring rapid thermal response, excellent energy efficiency, and long-term structural integrity. Its vertical top-hinged door configuration provides unobstructed access to the elongated chamber (200 × 150 × 1230 mm), optimized for processing rods, crucibles, or stacked samples in materials science, metallurgy, ceramics, and ash content analysis. The furnace operates on ambient air unless equipped with optional inert gas inlet ports, making it unsuitable for corrosive off-gas applications (e.g., halogenated or sulfur-rich samples) that may degrade heating elements or insulation. Temperature control is achieved via a calibrated Type S thermocouple positioned within the working zone, delivering traceable measurement accuracy compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 calibration practices.

Key Features

• High-stability temperature control with ±1 °C uniformity across the usable chamber volume at 1340 °C, verified per ASTM E220 methodology.
• Refractory ceramic fiber lining with low thermal mass and high emissivity, enabling consistent heat distribution and reducing standby power consumption.
• FeCrAl A1 alloy resistance heating elements mounted in grooves within the insulation—resistant to oxidation up to 1400 °C and engineered for >5,000 hours of service life under cyclic operation.
• Integrated safety architecture: mechanical door limit switch de-energizes heating circuit upon opening; overtemperature cut-off via independent safety thermostat.
• Standard HT40AL controller supports two ramp-and-soak profiles—sufficient for routine calcination, sintering, and annealing protocols.
• Optional HT200/HT205 programmable controllers enable full thermal profiling (up to 30 multi-step programs), with digital interfaces (USB/LAN) for remote monitoring and data export in CSV or XML format.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LH06/13 is intended for solid, non-volatile, non-corrosive samples—including metal oxides, ceramic powders, geological specimens, and pre-ashed organic matrices. It complies with IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC emissions) and IEC 61000-6-2 (immunity), and its construction meets CE marking requirements for laboratory electrical equipment. When configured with HT200/HT205 controllers and HTMonit software, the system supports 21 CFR Part 11–compliant electronic records: user authentication, parameter change logging, signature capture, and tamper-evident audit trails. The furnace satisfies common method validation criteria in ASTM C114 (cement analysis), ISO 5660-1 (fire testing), and USP (heavy metals residue testing), provided procedural controls (e.g., crucible pre-firing, soak time verification) are documented per GLP guidelines.

Software & Data Management

HTMonit is a Windows-based supervisory software package supporting real-time temperature visualization, historical trend playback, and automated report generation (PDF/Excel). When connected via RS232, EIA-485, or Ethernet, HTMonit captures timestamped process data—including setpoint, measured temperature, power output, and alarm status—at user-defined intervals (1–60 seconds). All controller configurations support firmware updates via USB stick, and configuration backups can be exported/imported to ensure method reproducibility across instruments. Data files include metadata (operator ID, sample ID, program name) and are digitally signed to meet ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available).

Applications

• Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) sample preparation and residue quantification.
• Sintering of advanced ceramics (Al₂O₃, ZrO₂) and metal matrix composites.
• Ash content determination in food, feed, and pharmaceutical excipients per AOAC 942.05 and ISO 2171.
• Pre-treatment of catalyst supports and electrode materials prior to BET surface area measurement.
• Heat treatment of calibration standards (e.g., NIST SRM 720e) and reference materials used in XRD and SEM-EDS workflows.
• Controlled oxidation studies of refractory alloys under static air or nitrogen-purged atmospheres.

FAQ

What atmosphere options are supported?
Ambient air is standard; optional inert gas (N₂, Ar) or reducing gas (H₂/N₂ mix) inlets are available with integrated flowmeter and pressure gauge—requires HT200 or HT205 controller.
Is the furnace suitable for chlorine-containing samples?
No—halogen-containing or acidic off-gas samples will corrode FeCrAl heating elements and degrade ceramic fiber insulation; use quartz tube furnaces or specialized corrosion-resistant models instead.
Can temperature uniformity be validated in-house?
Yes—using a calibrated multi-point thermocouple probe array and following ASTM E220 Annex A3, users may map thermal gradients at defined setpoints (e.g., 800 °C, 1100 °C, 1340 °C).
Does the HT40AL controller support data logging?
No—HT40AL is a basic two-segment programmer without digital interface; data recording requires HT200/HT205 + HTMonit or external DAQ systems.
What maintenance is recommended for long-term performance?
Annual inspection of heating element continuity, thermocouple calibration verification, and visual assessment of insulation integrity—especially near door seals and exhaust ports—are advised per LAC Maintenance Bulletin MB-LH-2023.