Four Techne fluidised sand
baths are providing the
materials laboratory at
Cambridge University’s
Department of Engineering
with precisely controlled
heating facilities for a variety
of heat treatment processes
to 600°C with temperature
accuracy within ±1°C.

The SBL-2 sand baths are
mainly used by students for
tempering, annealing, stressrelieving
and other procedures
on steel, aluminium, brass
and copper in a wide range
of grades.

Air is blown through the
sand to create a boiling effect
similar to a liquid bath but
without the fumes associated
with oil baths and the
solidification that occurs
with salt baths.

As the sand is heated, the
heat is distributed throughout
the bath and transferred
quickly and evenly to the
samples in it. Temperature
control is provided by Techne
TC-8D wall-mounted
instruments via type K
thermocouples that fit into a
pocket in each bath wall.