High Temperature High Vacuum Resistance Furnace

An experimental high temperature high vacuum furnace with self-supported tungsten resistance heating elements is described. The furnace is assembled from readily obtainable parts, and knife-edge vacuum seals are used through-out. The volume of the hot chamber is approximately 2 in. diameter by 8 in. high; the uniform zone is 2 in. long. A temperature of 2000°C can be attained at a pressure of ${\text{∼10}}^{\text{−5}}\hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{mm\hspace{0.17em}Hg}$ and at a power expenditure of 12 kw.