A compact and flexible induction furnace for in situ X-ray microradiograhy and computed microtomography at Elettra: design, characterization and first tests

A compact and versatile induction furnace for in situ high-resolution synchrotron and laboratory hard X-ray microradiography and computed microtomography is described. The furnace can operate from 773 to 1723K. Its programmable controller enables the user to specify multiple heating and cooling ramp rates as well as variable dwell times at fixed temperatures allowing precise control of heating and cooling rates to within 5K. The instrument can work under a controlled atmosphere. Thanks to the circular geometry of the induction coils, the heat is homogeneously distributed in the internal volume of the graphite cell (ca. 150mm(3)) where the sample holder is located. The thermal gradient within the furnace is less than 5K over a height of ca. 5mm. This new furnace design is well suited to the study of melting and solidification processes in geomaterials, ceramics and several metallic alloys, allowing fast heating (tested up to 6.5Ks(-1)) and quenching (up to 21Ks(-1)) in order to freeze the sample microstructure and chemistry under high-temperature conditions. The sample can be held at high temperatures for several hours, which is essential to follow phenomena with relatively slow dynamics, such as crystallization processes in geomaterials. The utility of the furnace is demonstrated through a few examples of experimental applications performed at the Elettra synchrotron laboratory (Trieste, Italy).