University of Canterbury

High-capacity calcination furnace

University of Canterbury is planning to purchase a High-capacity calcination furnace.
A calcination furnace is a type of industrial equipment used to heat materials, typically minerals, ores, or other solid materials, to high temperatures in order to induce a thermal decomposition or a phase transition. It removes volatile substances, moisture, and other impurities from a material by heating it to temperatures typically ranging from 800°C to 1500°C. This process results in a chemical change, such as the decomposition of carbonates to oxides.
There is a current lack of experimental capabilities in UC and New Zealand at both the industry and research level. While there are small furnaces that can calcine a few hundred grams at a time, individual tests at a useful scale require 20kg or more particularly when looking at 3D printed structural components. Combining multiple samples from numerous individual calcinations introduces excessive uncertainty and variability. The capabilities that this instrument possesses are critical for any research programme in concrete lab.

Department/Business Unit: Planning, Finance & ITS