Abstract: The present invention discloses novel nitrogen-hydrogen based atmospheres for sintering steel components in continuous furnaces with consistent quality and properties while prolonging the life of the wire mesh belts, reducing maintenance costs, and improving furnace productivity. Specifically, it discloses the use of a controlled amount of an oxidizing agent such as moisture, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, or mixtures thereof along with nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres. The amount of an oxidizing agent added to the nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres to pre-condition belt material prior to its use for sintering and to sinter steel components is controlled in such a way that atmospheres become oxidizing to the belt material but reducing to steel components being sintered, specifically in the high heating and cooling zones of continuous furnaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reflow soldering electronic components, preferably to printed circuit boards, in an inert atmosphere to reduce solder defects and the need for flux or cleaning wherein the inert atmosphere is provided from a source of inert gas through several distribution lines which parallel the conveyor belt of a reflow solder furnace and supply each end of porous sintered metal diffuser tubes situated above the conveyor belt, as well as gas knives situated in baffle compartments at the inlet and outlet of the reflow solder furnace to strip barrier layers of oxygen atmosphere from the electronic components and preclude ingress of oxygen atmosphere into the reflow solder furnace.

Abstract: A process for generating in-situ low cost atmospheres suitable for annealing and heat treating ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, brazing metals and ceramics, sealing glass to metals, and sintering metal and ceramic powders in a continuous furnace from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 5% residual oxygen is presented. The disclosed process involves mixing nitrogen gas containing residual oxygen with a pre-determined amount of a reducing gas such as hydrogen, a hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, feeding the gaseous mixture through a non-conventional device into the hot zone of a continuous heat treating furnace, converting residual oxygen to an acceptable form such as moisture, a mixture of moisture and carbon dioxide, or a mixture of moisture, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and using the resultant gaseous mixture for annealing and heat treating metals and alloys, brazing metals and ceramics, sintering metal and ceramic powders, and sealing glass to metals.

Abstract: A process for generating in-situ low-cost atmospheres suitable for annealing and heat treating ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, brazing metals, sealing glass to metals, and sintering metal and ceramic powders in a continuous furnace from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 5% residual oxygen is presented. The disclosed process involves mixing nitrogen gas containing residual oxygen with a predetermined amount of a hydrocarbon gas, feeding the gaseous mixture through a nonconventional device into the hot zone of a continuous heat treating furnace, converting residual oxygen to an acceptable form such as a mixture of moisture and carbon dioxide, a mixture of moisture, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, or a mixture of carbon monoxide, moisture, and hydrogen, and using the resultant gaseous mixture for annealing and heat treating metals and alloys, brazing metals, sintering metal and ceramic powders, and sealing glass to metals.

Abstract: A process for generating in-situ low-cost atmospheres suitable for annealing and heat treating ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, brazing metals and ceramics, sealing glass to metals, and sintering metal and ceramic powders in a continuous furnace from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 5% residual oxygen is presented. The disclosed process involves mixing nitrogen gas containing residual oxygen with a pre-determined amount of a reducing gas such as hydrogen, a hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, feeding the gaseous mixture through a non-conventional device into the hot zone of a continuous heat treating furnace, converting residual oxygen to an acceptable form such as moisture, a mixture of moisture and carbon dioxide, or a mixture of moisture, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and using the resultant gaseous mixture for annealing and heat treating metals and alloys, brazing metals and ceramics, sintering metal and ceramic powders, and sealing glass to metals.

Abstract: A process for generating in-situ low-cost atmospheres suitable for annealing and heat treating ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, brazing metals and ceramics, sealing glass to metals, and sintering metal and ceramic powders in a continuous furnace from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 5% residual oxygen is presented. The disclosed process involves mixing nitrogen gas containing residual oxygen with a pre-determined amount of a reducing gas such as hydrogen, a hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, feeding the gaseous mixture through a non-conventional device into the hot zone of a continuous heat treating furnace, converting residual oxygen to an acceptable form such as moisture, a mixture of moisture and carbon dioxide, or a mixture of moisture, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and using the resultant gaseous mixture for annealing and heat treating metals and alloys, brazing metals and ceramics, sintering metal and ceramic powders, and sealing glass to metals.

Abstract: Artificial aging of metal alloys in the process of precipitation hardening is performed in the elevated temperature vapor of a perfluorochemical to reduce temperature fluctuations, preserve alloy integrity and avoid environmentally detrimental process conditions and by-products.