Special Carbolite Gero Furnace is cost-effective solution for crystal growth
The Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, which is at the forefront of research into the properties of new and exotic materials, has increased its crystal growth capabilities with the installation of a multi-zone Bridgman furnace from Carbolite Gero.
Close collaboration between the company and university staff has enabled the new furnace to be integrated with gas, chilled-water, blower and control systems already in place for use with a previous unit, significantly reducing the cost compared with installing a complete Bridgman unit with all associated accessories.
The Warwick University physics department has been producing single crystals of a very wide range of materials for over 20 years, meeting in-house and external demand for specimens for studying the physics of condensed matter within UK laboratories. The Warwick team working in this field uses a variety of equipment to produce high-quality specimens of oxides, selenides, silicides, borides, inter-metallics and related materials.
The Carbolite Gero Bridgman unit has a maximum temperature of 1350ºC, which is considerably higher than the previous equipment in the laboratory and allows the department to make further advances in its work on topological insulators used in the energy storage industry. The furnace incorporates a 1200mm-long vertical work-tube with three 250mm heating zones, allowing specific temperature gradients to be created.
The furnace itself has been installed within an existing frame and uses the previous loading and unloading procedures, which involve inserting glass ampoules containing the samples into the top of the work-tube and lowering them to the bottom on a platform at precisely controlled speeds. Each procedure typically takes between one and four weeks, during which the materials react together and slowly solidify to form the crystal.
Heating is provided by 5mm elements linked to a type-S thermocouple and powered by a low-voltage supply via a heavy-duty transformer that together provide very accurate temperature stability and greatly increased element life. Low-thermal-mass insulation minimises heat loss and energy consumption and also allows high heating rates.