Refractory metals in furnace construction and engineering

High Temperature Components
Refractory Metals in
Furnace Construction and Engineering

2
Global Leader in High Temperature
Furnace Products
PLANSEE is the leading manufacturer of powder-metallurgically processed refractory and special metals.
Based on our core competences in the areas of high performance materials, emerging applications and technologies, we have
been manufacturing products and components made from molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, chromium and their alloys
for more than 85 years.
Refractory metals have various beneficial properties for use in high-temperature processing equipment: high melting point and
correspondingly low vapour pressure, low thermal expansion and heat capacity as well as excellent high temperature strength
and creep resistance. Through the development of special high performance alloys based on Mo and W (such as TZM, MLR,
WVM, etc.) PLANSEE has succeeded in significantly improving the microstructural stability and creep strength in comparison to
the pure metals.
PLANSEE together with its affiliates PLANSEE USA and JAPAN VACS METAL is the world’s largest producer of vacuum furnace
hot zones and engineered components and offers the most extensive range of high temperature products.

CONTENTS
Furnace Construction and Engineering Page
Global Leader in High Temperature Furnace Products 2
Application Fields of PLANSEE Materials 4
Broad Product Range 5
Customized Solutions for Individual Demands 7
Advantages of PLANSEE Materials 8
Product Portfolio for High Temperature Furnaces 9
Hot Zones for High Temperature Furnaces 10
Charge Carriers, Trays and Boats 12
Components for Special Equipment 13
Standard Components and Mill Products 14
Availability of Standard Mill Products 15
PLANSEE Materials for Furnace Construction 16
The Worldwide PLANSEE Network 18
Further Application Fields of PLANSEE Materials 19
Details about quality and recommendations about the use of materials and products are for descriptive purposes. They are based on the results of our research and development
work and on practical experience. Statements about certain properties are made to the best of our knowledge but are offered without guarantee. Statements on these matters shall
always require specific agreement in writing. All rights reserved, especially those relating to translation into foreign languages. This brochure, or parts thereof, may not be duplicated
without the express approval of PLANSEE.
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Application Fields of PLANSEE Materials
Refractory metal components are used in a wide range of industries and applications for high-temperature furnaces and thermal-
processing plants.
Some important fields of thermal application for refractory metal products are:
- Sintering of metals and ceramics
- Powder processing (calcining, reduction, agglomeration)
- Brazing, high-temperature annealing and heat treatment
- Metal injection moulding (MIM)
- Annealing of stainless and electrical steel in N 2 /H 2 atmospheres
- Aerospace including maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)
- Medical technology
- Electronics and semiconductor industries
- Lighting industry
- Production of nuclear fuel
- Thermal waste treatment
- Research and development
At the component design stage solutions are tailored to the application, taking into account important process parameters such
as temperature, size, atmosphere, environment, temperature uniformity and load. PLANSEE works in close partnership with both
OEMs and end users for all requirements of new equipment and replacement parts.
Sintered MIM parts
Turbine blades after repair treatment
Photo: Parmaco Metal Injection Molding AG

Standard mill products Furnace components and spare parts
Broad Product Range
PLANSEE offers the widest range of refractory metal mill products and finished parts for thermal processing equipment available
anywhere in the world.
Semi-finished products in standard dimensions can be supplied in a matter of days from worldwide distribution centres. Finished
parts ranging from simple parts cut from sheet to complex furnace hot zones are manufactured at sites in Europe, Asia and Ame-
rica following uniformly strict quality guidelines.
PLANSEE supplies:
- Standard mill products (plates, sheets, ribbons, rods, wires)
and simple cut pieces according to customer’s needs,
despatched from central store
- Laser- or water jet-cut pieces with user-defined profile
according to customer drawing (EDI possible) from our
cutting center
- Processed and assembled components such as boats,
charge carriers, thermocouple protection tubes and other
furnace components according to customer drawings
- Complex components (hot zones, radiation shields, charge
carriers, HIP parts, tubes for rotary furnaces and other
engineered parts) are designed and manufactured by
PLANSEE together with the customer
Complex engineered components
Our innovative and experienced employees are ready to meet every challenge. Together with the customer they find the right
product design using the best choice of materials for individual applications.
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Customized Solutions
for Individual Demands
PLANSEE offers much more than the on-time delivery of high-quality mill products and finished components for industrial plants
and furnaces. The customer can call on PLANSEE’s entire service package as a world market-leader. Especially important is the
expertise of our engineering in materials, products and applications.
- Innovative materials and design concepts
- Individual product solutions
- Customer support at the design concept stage
- Realisation of turn-key solutions
- Engineering at the highest level
- Use of modern design tools including CAD,
finite element analysis or 3-D modelling
- On-site repair work and fitting of replacement parts
- Consultation partner throughout the entire project
In many cases selecting the most suitable material and design to fit the requirements leads to a noticeable improvement of the
entire plant. We also ensure future competitive advantages for our customers through continuous improvements in our materials,
products and capabilities.
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M o , T Z M , M L , W R e , M o R e , S I B O R ® , W ,
W L , W V M , Ta , Nb …
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PLANSEE Materials for High Performance
The materials used in high-temperature furnaces and engineered components are regularly subjected to extreme thermal and
mechanical loading as well as harsh chemical environments. PLANSEE High Performance Materials based on refractory metals
exhibit many advantageous properties to withstand these demanding conditions.
Advantages of PLANSEE materials:
- High melting point permits operation up to 2800 ˚C / 5072 ˚F
- Excellent high temperature strength
- Suitable for use in protective atmospheres (e.g. Ar, He, N , H ) 2 2
- Very low heat capacity reduces energy consumption
- Minimum distortion during rapid temperature changes
- Resistance to aggressive chemical environments
- Dense metallic surface avoids the absorption of gas and moisture
- Complex shaping by metal-forming and machining processes
- No contamination of equipment or product (carbon- and binder-free materials)
In addition to pure refractory metals, PLANSEE offers advanced high-performance alloys such as ML, TZM or WVM. The addition
of dopant elements in combination with special thermo-mechanical processing routes significantly improves the material properties
and therefore the performance of the finished products.
For the first time the use of molybdenum in oxygen-containing and oxidising atmospheres up to 1700 °C / 3092 °F has become
reality by means of the new SIBOR ® coating.

High temperature vacuum batch furnace
Product Portfolio for
High Temperature Furnaces
PLANSEE supplies materials and components for various high-temperature furnaces. The two most important types are batch
and continuous furnaces operated under vacuum or protective atmosphere. Batch furnaces allow very flexible operation, in
which furnace parameters such as temperature, heating and cooling rate, cycling time, furnace atmosphere and batch size can
be changed from one cycle to the next.
PLANSEE supplies important furnace components which can stand up to these changing conditions:
- Complete hot zones
- Radiation shields
- Heating elements and connectors
- Furnace fixtures, racks, grids, sheets, boats, etc.
- Hearth components such as rails, posts and caps
- Sintering boxes and retorts
- Gas feeding and quenching systems
- Thermocouple protection tubes
- Replacement parts
- Small parts (screws, bolts, nuts, pins, wires, etc.)
Continuous furnaces allow very efficient, frequently automated operation with a high throughput of similar parts. For troublefree
operation high reliability is demanded from furnace components, where dimensional and form stability as well as life time are
critical. PLANSEE components for continuous furnaces are ideally suited to meeting these demands.
- Pusher plates
- Boats, frames and trays
- Heating elements
- Element connectors
- Fixing hooks and clamps
- Thermocouple protection tubes
- Small and spare parts
Photo: Schmetz GmbH
High temperature continuous furnace
Photo: ELINO
Hot isostatic press (HIP)
Photo: Powdermetal /ABB
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10
Hot Zones for High
Temperature Furnaces
PLANSEE is the world's leading manufacturer of metallic high-temperature hot zones. Through continuous development in materials
and design PLANSEE is able not only to offer various standard and specialised hot zones, but sets the trend in technical
progress, for example in the form of low-energy hot zones (ENERZONE).
Hot zones are both designed together with the furnace OEM for new installations and offered to end users as exchange units for
existing furnaces. In the latter case the performance and durability of the hot zone can almost always be improved in comparison
to the original. The service package for replacements includes the complete dismantling of the old and installation of the new
hot zone.
PLANSEE supplies the whole spectrum regarding:
- Materials: Mo, W, Ta, Nb and their alloys
- Shielding/insulation: hybrid hot zones with graphite or
ceramic fibre insulation
- Dimensions: hot zones ranging from very small to
extremely large
- Temperature: from 1000 °C / 1832 °F to 2800 °C / 5072 °F
- Design: round, rectangular, vertical, horizontal
or special types
- Replacement of graphite with metallic hot zones
(usually without needing to change the transformers)

Typical quality attributes of PLANSEE hot zones are:
- TIG welded stainless steel structure for support frame
and plenum
- ML for components subjected to extreme thermal and
mechanical load, such as heating elements, element
supports, hot face and gas nozzles
- Optimum choice of the type of heating element for the given
application (ribbon, sheet, wire, rod, stranded wire, mesh)
- Double V-groove design and free flowing support for wide
ribbon heating elements
- Radiation shielding design guarantees low energy
consumption over long-term operation
- U-rails (ML or TZM) replacing standard rails in hearth
Photo: ALD
Examples of high-temperature hot zones engineered and built by PLANSEE
design for minimum material usage and easy sliding of
the workpiece during thermal expansion
In recent years annealing boxes and retorts have been introduced in advanced furnace design of hot zones, which can ensure
better temperature uniformity and controlled gas flow. Here PLANSEE offers well-engineered and long-lasting solutions, which
have been proven excellent performance.
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Charge Carriers, Trays, Plates, and Boats
The special quality of PLANSEE charge carrying fixtures (racks, grids, baskets, base plates, boats, trays) is based on the outstanding
properties of PLANSEE High Performance Materials. The choice of material has a significant effect on the functionality and
reliability of the entire plant. Therefore PLANSEE prefers to use ML and TZM in furnace furniture, which exhibit up to 10 times the
creep strength of and have better ductility than pure molybdenum.
The advantages of PLANSEE High Performance Materials are exploited with the help of modern design tools to achieve high
strength, form stability, and easy handling for smooth operation together with minimum material usage:
- Rails, posts, caps and grids
- Furnace racks, inserted, screwed or riveted
- Stackable charge carriers with fixed or variable spacing
- Base plates, boats and frames for pusher furnaces
- Riveted boats for walking-beam furnaces
- Intermediate trays and frames
- Special requirements according to customer demand
As an option trays, plates and boats can be supplied with ceramic coatings to prevent them from reacting with or sticking to the
products being processed.
Various types of furnace fixtures
Various types of furnace fixtures

Tube for rotary furnace (ML)
Components for Special Equipment
In metallic HIP (Hot Isostatic Press) plants sintering, joining and densification processes are carried out at temperatures up to
around 1450 ˚C / 2642 ˚F and gas pressures up to 200 MPa. This emerging technology faces continuously increasing demands with
respect to large dimensions, high temperatures and rapid temperature changes. This is also an area where PLANSEE supplies key
components of high quality with long service life.
- Metallic components in PLANSEE High Temperature Materials such as TZM and ML
- Mantles and support baskets with integrated heating systems
- Charge support plates and furnace hearth with bottom heating
- Gas circulation devices
- Fixings and spare parts
Rotary furnaces
Rotary furnaces offer an efficient method for homogenous treatments of bulk material, powder and waste. PLANSEE supplies
the tubes for such furnaces, specially adapted to the application.
- Almost unlimited dimensions through multi-part design
- Increased gas tightness through multi-layer construction and coating
- SIBOR ® coating for use in oxidising atmospheres or highly corrosive media
Special Parts and Engineered Components
PLANSEE works in partnership with its customers. The effect: Many developments in the steel industry, waste incineration and
plant construction have been implemented successfully in recent years.
Hot zone with annealing muffle HIP mantle (TZM)
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Standard Components and Mill Products
PLANSEE always has a comprehensive range of standard components and mill products in stock, deliveries can be made in a
few days. Various material grades based on Mo, W and Ta are available.
- Sheets, plates and foils
- Rods with random or cut length
- Small parts such as screws, bolts, nuts, rivets and washers
- Rails and posts for load support
- Threaded rods
- Support studs, bolts and pins
- Wires and bundled wires for heating elements
- Tubes and thermocouple sheaths
- Ceramic isolators
Mill products are offered in standard dimensions, aimed specifically at furnace applications, particularly for heating elements and
radiation shields. The table on page 15 provides an overview of the main standard components and typical mill product dimensions.
Additional stock sizes are available via PLANSEE Express, and non-standard sizes are offered on request.
PLANSEE Express
Mill products in standard sizes are offered online via PLANSEE Express, with the following advantages:
- Easy, rapid order processing
- Guaranteed availability
- Shortest possible delivery times
- High delivery reliability
An overview of all the products available from PLANSEE Express together with information on the ordering procedure can be
found at www.plansee.com.
Mo and ML coils Spare parts for standard hot zones
Multistranded wire (ML)

Delivery Program for Standard
Semi-Finished Products
Availability Mo TZM ML W (WVM)
Sheets
< 1.0mm (0.039)
Sheets
>= 1.0mm (0.039)
Cut to requirements
Plates
>=6.35mm (0.25)
Hearth rails cut to
requirements
Coiled sheet
Coiled ribbon
(Heating elements)
Cutting, rolling and
grooves applied to
requirements
Wire
Pins cut to length
Rod
Posts cut to length;
Heating elements
bended to requirements
Multistranded wire
(Binding wire, Heating
elements)
Length x width
mm (inch)
609.6 x 1981.2
(24 x 78)
1 - 3 mm:
600 x 2000
(23.6 x 78.7)
4 - 5 mm:
500 x 1000
(19.7 x 39.4)
max length:
2000 (78.7)
609.6x>7600
(24x>299)
acc.
PLANSEE
Express
All threads 1000 (39.4)
Hex Nuts
Threaded pins with 1
hole (rolled thread)
Tubes
(Thermocouples)
thickness / Ø
mm (inch)
0.127 (0.005)
0.254 (0.010)
0.381 (0.015)
0.508 (0.020)
0.635 (0.025)
0.762 (0.030)
1.0 (0.039)
1.5 (0.059)
2.0 (0.079)
2.5 (0.098)
3.0 (0.118)
4.0 (0.157)
5.0 (0.197)
6.35 (0.250)
7.94 (0.313)
9.52 (0.375)
0.127 (0.005)
0.254 (0.010)
0.381 (0.015)
0.5 - 3.0
(0.020 - 0.118)
3.17 (0.125)
6.0 (0.236)
6.35 (0.25)
8.0 (0.315)
9.52 (0.375)
10.0 (0.394)
19.05 (0.75)
25.4 (1.0)
M6
M10
¼"- 20" UNC
⅜"- 20" UNC
M6
¼" UNC
M10
¼"- 20" UNC
M6
3.175 x 0.381 (0.125 x 0.015)
6.35 x 0.508 (0.25 x 0.02)
10 x 1 (0.39 x 0.039)
12.7 x 1 (0.50 x 0.039)
16 x 1 (0.63 x 0.039)
19.05 x 1.524 (0.75 x 0.060)
25 x 1.5 (0.98 x 0.059)
Length x width
mm (inch)
max size:
600x2000
(23.6x78.7)
max length:
1828.8 (72)
thickness / Ø
mm (inch)
1.0 (0.039)
1.5 (0.059)
2.0 (0.079)
3.0 (0.118)
6.35 (0.250)
7.94 (0.313)
9.52 (0.375)
19.05 (0.75)
25.4 (1.0)
M6
¼“- 20" UNC
M6
¼“- 20" UNC
M10
Length x width
mm (inch)
609.6 x 1981.2
(24 x 78)
max size:
600x2000
(23.6x78.7)
width:
76.2 (3.0)
101.6 (4.0)
127 (5.0)
thickness / Ø
mm (inch)
0.254 (0.010)
0.381 (0.015)
0.508 (0.020)
0.762 (0.030)
1.0 (0.039)
1.5 (0.059)
2.54 (0.10)
3.17 (0.125)
5.0 (0.197)
0.635 (0.025)
0.762 (0.030)
0.5 (0.020)
0.8 (0.031)
1.0 (0.039)
1.524 (0.060)
2.286 (0.090)
6.35 (0.25)
9.52 (0.375)
19.05 (0.75)
25.4 (1.0)
0.35 (0.014) x 3
0.8 (0.0315) x 3 x 7
0.8 (0.0315) x 7 x 7
1.0 (0.039) x 7 x 7
Length x width
mm (inch)
508x838.2
(20x33)
1 - 2 mm:
500 x 1000
(19.7 x 39.4))
3 - 5 mm:
200 x 600
(7.9 x 23.6)
WVM
acc.
PLANSEE
Express
thickness / Ø
mm (inch)
0.127 (0.050)
0.254 (0.010)
0.508 (0.020)
1.0 (0.039)
1.5 (0.059)
2.0 (0.079)
3.0 (0.118)
4.0 (0.157)
5.0 (0.197)
0.635 (0.025)
0.8 (0.031)
0.9 (0.035)
1.0 (0.039)
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PLANSEE High Performance Materials for
Furnace Construction
Mo
Pure molybdenum finds many applications in high-temperature furnace building because of its high availability, good workability
and favourable high-temperature properties (low vapour pressure, high melting point).
TZM
(molybdenum doped with titanium and zirconium)
TZM contains small additions of finely dispersed particles (consisting of Ti, Zr and C), which inhibit grain growth at high temperatures.
This significantly increases ductility and creep strength. TZM has a higher recrystallisation temperature than pure Mo.
It is best suited to components subjected to both high thermal and mechanical loading such as hearth assemblies, racks and
fixtures.
ML/MLR/MLS
(molybdenum doped with lanthanum oxide)
ML is used whenever embrittlement after recrystallisation must be avoided and when dimensional and shape-stability must be
ensured at high temperatures. Heating elements, thermal-radiation shields and sintering boats are good examples. Doping of Mo
with small quantities of La O increases the recrystallisation temperature to 1400 °C / 2552 °F. After recrystallisation the resultant
2 3
elongated grain structure with jagged grain boundaries (in contrast to the coarse-grained structure of recrystallised pure Mo)
allows a considerable increase in ductility. Furthermore the creep resistance strength of ML is significantly higher than that of the
pure metal.

Stress for 1% creep in 1000h R p1.0/1000 [MPa]
SIBOR ® coated Mo
Molybdenum starts to react with oxygen at approximately 400 °C / 752 °F and forms a yellow, sublimating oxide at higher temper-
atures. This reaction excludes the use of unprotected Molybdenum at high temperatures in oxygen containing atmospheres.
SIBOR ® is the first successful coating system to be developed, which reliably inhibits oxidation at temperatures up to 1700 °C /
3092 °F for long periods. Molybdenum-SIBOR ® also offers considerable protection against corrosive atmospheres and inhibits
carburising and nitriding reactions.
SIBOR ® generates a dense, stable coating with a sealing surface layer of SiO 2 above layers of molybdenum silicide. Protection
against oxidising and corrosive media can be maintained for up to several thousand hours of high-temperature operation.
W
Tungsten has the highest melting point of all refractory metals and possesses excellent resistance to hot gas corrosion. It is brittle
at room temperature and must be handled and worked with great care.
WL (tungsten doped with lanthanum oxide)
This material can be worked more easily and has a higher creep strength than pure W.
WVM
WVM is doped with calcium aluminium silicate, which gives it higher form stability at high temperatures than pure tungsten. WVM
is used for heating elements for very high furnace temperatures up to 2800 °C / 5072 °F in the form of single or stranded wires
and mesh heaters.
Ta
Tantalum is easy to work and can be used in cold forming. It is readily weldable and retains its ductility after being subjected to
high temperature. However the high material price usually restricts its use to special applications, mainly in corrosive atmospheres.
Nb
Like tantalum, niobium is used in corrosive environments because of its outstanding passivating properties. Niobium is equally
suited to welding, but has a lower mechanical strength than tantalum.
1652 2012 2372 2732 3092 3452
Temperature [°F]
1000
100
10
1
0.1
Temperature [°C]
900 1100 1300 1500 1700 1900
Creep resistance (sheet material)
Ductility after 100h exposure at temperature
(Impact bending test, relative values, Mo=1)
25
20
15
10
5
0
2012 2642 3272
Temperature [°F]
Exposure temperature [°C]
1100 1450 1800
Ductility after high temperature exposure
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PLANSEE Global Network
PLANSEE is the world's largest manufacturer of metallic hot zones and components for furnace construction. Together with its
affiliates PLANSEE USA and JAPAN VACS METAL, PLANSEE offers a comprehensive technology package and provides solutions
wherever they are needed.
Fully owned production facilities in the most important markets and a worldwide service network consisting of sales companies
and exclusive agents ensure short delivery times, a high service level and uniform quality standards.
Worldwide Production Network
The worldwide PLANSEE production network is tailored to the current and future needs of our customers. Each development and
production centre in the PLANSEE group offers a service support package throughout the region.
Worldwide Sales Network
A worldwide sales network supports the regional production facilities and provides a rapid on the spot response to customer
enquiries.

Further Application Fields
of PLANSEE Materials
Based on many years of experience in the field of powder metallurgy, we supply a wide range of products made from refractory
metals including molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and chromium as well as their alloys and composite materials.
The unique properties of PLANSEE materials make them indispensable to many industries such as:
- Lighting Industry
- Electronics
- Coating Technology
- Medical Technology
- Power Technology
- Material and Processing Technology
Selection of PLANSEE Products made of High Performance Materials:
Targets for hard coatings
WCu plasma spray nozzles and electrodes
TIG Electrodes
Parts for ion implantation
DENSIMET ® boring bars used for machining Insert for Al die casting
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Close to the customer - our global network
PLANSEE manufactures and markets its products worldwide. Production sites in Europe, USA and Japan and a global network
of sales subsidiaries and sales partners, enable outstanding customer service and product quality delivered by local teams.
Stronger than any alliance and more diversified than single producers, PLANSEE is the most reliable source for high performance
components made of refractory metals.
For more information and local contacts please visit our website:
www.plansee.com
We reserve the right to make technical changes for improvement of the product. 7000953 - 699 E 09.11 (2500) RWF