Thermal processing of advanced and high-purity materials requires equipment that can reliably balance high-quality product output, safety, and economic production. In today’s market, companies must balance a variety of product lines, each requiring the same standards. Harper International understands that each product requires its own customized processing solution. Advancements in Harper’s rotary furnaces allow for the interchange of process tube materials or shapes to utilize one thermal system for a variety of advanced material product lines and material developments (Figure 1).

An indirectly fired rotary furnace is a continuous thermal system that applies heat to the incoming process material over multiple thermal control zones. The complete system includes feeding, heating, cooling, and gas handling and provides a very efficient method for processing powders. Rotary tube furnaces primarily are used because of their efficiency in heat transfer and mass transfer for powders as well as minimizing material-handling requirements.