Furnaces for thermal processing
May 1st 2007

Two specially designed furnaces from Lenton Thermal Designs are enabling Stryker Biotech to sinter orthobiologic materials in clean room conditions at closely controlled temperatures of up to 1200°C at its factory in the Irish Republic. The furnaces are used in the manufacturing process for tricalcium phosphate granules, the main ingredient in an absorbable filler developed by Stryker to repair bone defects. The Lenton furnaces have chambers measuring 460mm wide x 460mm high x 1060mm deep, which allow 28 trays of material to be processed in each one at a time. A special loading trolley allows the trays to be positioned easily in the chambers, and specially designed doors with gas-tight seals have been fitted to prevent ingress of air.

Each furnace also has an exhaust chimney with a damper valve which is opened to allow fumes to escape and closed at higher temperatures to improve uniformity. Heating is provided by six resistance wire coils on each side of the chambers, with separate temperature control provided for both elements.