Methods for microwave heat treatment of manufactured components
View Patent ↗An apparatus for heat treating manufactured components using microwave energy and microwave susceptor material. Heat treating medium such as eutectic salts may be employed. A fluidized bed introduces process gases which may include carburizing or nitriding gases. The process may be operated in a batch mode or continuous process mode. A microwave heating probe may be used to restart a frozen eutectic salt bath.
1. A method of heat treating a component, the method comprising:
melting a salt using microwaves to form a molten salt having a molten state;
placing the component in the molten salt;
heating the molten salt sufficiently to maintain the molten state; and
removing the component from the molten salt.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the molten salt sufficiently to maintain the molten state comprises heating the molten salt using microwave energy.
3. A method of heat treating components, the method comprising:
loading a fluidized bed insulating vessel with components and granular microwave susceptor material such that a substantial portion of an exterior surface of each components is in contact with the granular microwave susceptor material;
exposing the loaded fluidized bed insulating vessel to microwave radiation; and
pumping process gas into the loaded fluidized bed insulating vessel.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of bumping a process gas comprises pumping a surface treatment gas into the loaded fluidized bed insulating vessel.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of pumping a surface treatment gas comprises pumping a carburizing gas into the loaded fluidized bed insulating vessel.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of pumping a surface treatment gas comprises pumping a nitriding gas into the loaded fluidized bed insulating vessel.