PTCR®0 pages

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PTCR
Process Temperature
Control Rings from 660°C
up to 1,750°C
The PTCR is a highly accurate ceramic device that registers the
total amount of heat transferred to it and the fired product. PTCR
takes account of both radiated and transferred heat, as well as the
effects of temperature over time. It conveniently allows this
recorded heat exposure to be expressed as a single number - ring
temperature (RT) - which is practical and easy to work with.
The rings can be used in both batch and continuous tunnel kilns;
they are used in a range of atmospheres, including oxygen,
nitrogen, air and vacuum. Six different PTCR types are available –
in heights of 3.5 mm and 7.0 mm – covering a range from 660°C to
1,750°C. Ring types are identified by colour coding and batch and
type numbers pressed into the ring.
Originally PTCR has been developed for in-house application in
critical firing processes for advanced electronic ceramic
components. Now, the PTCR brings the benefits of easy, accurate
kiln heating measurement to a wide range of industries.
The entire PTCR manufacturing facilities have been awarded the
internationally recognized ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 quality
certification.
HOW IT WORKS
When exposed to heat in the kiln & furnace, the PTCR contracts
– and continues contracting as the top temperature is
maintained over time. The degree of contraction is almost linear
over the complete operating range of the PTCR, providing a
practical measure of the accumulated heat to which the ring –
and the fired products – have been subjected. The amount of
contraction – the amount by which the ring diameter has shrunk
– is measured with a digital micrometer. This measurement can
be converted to ‘ring temperature’ for ease of comparison and
correlation to the firing process (temperature tables are supplied
with the rings).
QUALITY YOU CAN RELY ON
PTCR is recognized for its accuracy and reliability, and is
recently improved technology now offers an unsurpassed
accuracy guarantee – a maximum variation of no more than 3°C
ring temperature (RT).This reliability is based on a stringent
manufacturing process. PTCR are made from a mix of highgrade materials. Their composition is fine-tuned through
advanced Design Of Experiments-(DOE) techniques, and the
production process itself is controlled by Statistical Process
Control.