Optical Floating Zone Furnace

Optical Floating Zone Furnace has a wide range of applications comprising oriented single, bi and tri crystals growth, study of phase diagrams, directional solidification, zone refining and “contactless” melting. In this process the source of light is focused on the sample resulting in local heating and melting. The furnace is equipped with four 3 kW Xenon lamps and four ellipsoidal mirrors which enable to achieve extremely stable and uniform temperature distribution conditions with maximum operating temperature of 2700 °C. Therefore, melting point of almost all metals and many ceramics may be reached (e.g. Mo, LaB6). The molten zone is monitored by CCD camera that enable readily adjust processing parameters. This type of furnace needs no crucibles, therefore, chemical reaction between the melt and the crucible material can be avoided. Since sample housing is made of the specially designed transparent quartz tube, experiments may be carried out in protective atmosphere (e.g. Ar, H2), vacuum or under high pressure (~0.3 MPa).

Specification:
Heating: four 3 kW Xenon lamps
Maximum operating temperature: 2700°C