Programmable Multizone Directional-Solidification Furnaces

Programmable multizone furnaces with enhanced designs have been proposed for use in processing materials by directional solidification or, optionally, by related techniques of float-zone or isothermal solidification. Like some other directional-solidification furnaces reported previously in NASA Tech Briefs and elsewhere, these furnaces would incorporate multiple, individually controllable electric heaters stacked at a succession of axial locations in a stationary cylindrical main canister for generating, shaping, and translating specified axial temperature profiles (specified temperatures and/or temperature gradients) under electrical control. These furnaces would also incorporate cold-end modules that could be translated axially and telescoped into the main canisters to provide additional versatility for control of cold-end temperature profiles.