More Efficient Heating Processes under Vacuum

Infrared Emitter From Heraeus Noblelight With Quartz Reflector

The benefits of infrared heating can also be enjoyed under vacuum. Heraeus Noblelight a company within the worldwide Heraeus precious metals and technology organisation, is showing infrared emitters for the semi-conductor sector at the Semicon Exhibition, which takes place in Munich from the 12th to 14th April. Thanks to a newly developed reflector, there have been significant improvements in heating processes carried out under vacuum conditions.

Heating during production processes carried out under vacuum is a genuine requirement, which conventional heating techniques, such as warm air ovens, cannot meet. Infrared quartz emitters have already been successfully used before now, although directing the heat by a reflector has not been possible, as normal reflectors can give off evaporated metal when heated.

Without a reflector, emitters give out their heat in all directions, so that the complete vacuum chamber is heated up. A reflector helps to target the infrared radiation and a gold reflector, for example, directs around 90% of the emitted heat onto the product.
Heraeus Noblelight has developed a new reflector, which, unlike conventional reflectors, is not made of gold or metal oxides but of synthetic quartz glass and is consequently absolutely metal-free. Heraeus Noblelight has already applied for a patent for this new design of reflector.

Tests have shown that the reflection properties of the new quartz glass reflector are comparable with those of a gold reflector. The new reflector now allows the benefits of infrared heating technology to be enjoyed in processes under vacuum, such as for high purity products and high temperature processes.

Infrared radiation generates heat directly within the material to be heated, without the need for any intermediary heat transfer medium. Consequently, large amounts of energy can be transferred very quickly. Quartz glass emitters, with a reflector of synthetic quartz glass, help to minimise contamination during the manufacture of high purity products.
Quartz glass is of high purity and is extremely heat-resistant. There is no need for reflector cooling which is normally necessary for high temperature processes, as no metal ions are evaporated off.

Heraeus Noblelight offers the complete range of infrared radiation, from near infrared (NIR) to medium wave carbon technology CIR. It can carry out trials using customers’ own materials and advises on the selection of the optimum emitters for particular applications.

Reader inquiries:
Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 7
D-63801 Kleinostheim
Stefan Fuchs
Ph +49 6181/35-8469, F +49 6181/35-16 8469541
E-Mail stefan.fuchs@heraeus.com

Press Inquiries:
Dr. Marie-Luise Bopp
Heraeus Noblelight GmbH,
Ph +49 6181/35-8547, F +49 6181/35-16 8547
E-Mail marie-luise.bopp@heraeus.com

Heraeus Noblelight GmbH, with its headquarters in Hanau and with subsidiaries in the USA, Great Britain and China, is one of the technology- and market-leaders in the production of specialist light sources. In 2003, Heraeus Noblelight had an annual turnover of 65 Million € and employs 524 people worldwide. The organisation develops, manufactures and markets infrared and ultraviolet emitters for applications in manufacture, industrial process technology, environmental protection, medicine and cosmetics, research, development and analytical laboratories.

The precious metal and technology organisation Heraeus, is a market- and technology-leader, worldwide, in the fields of precious metals, dental materials, sensors, quartz glass and specialist light sources. In 2003, the organisation achieved a turnover of 7.4 milliard €, with more than 9200 employees worldwide in more than 100 sister companies and associated companies. Because of its very wide product portfolio, the organisation, which was founded in 1851, is relatively independent of particular developments in individual industrial sectors.