Industrial drying ovens are designed for double duty. Commonly known as dryers, they simultaneously heat a material while withdrawing moisture from its surface.
While industrial dryers come in many variations, the heating and drying process remains similar. First, the equipment heats a product or sample to a required temperature enough for moisture absorption. Then, it lets the product or sample set at a specific temperature and timeframe.
The last step is the cooling-down stage, where ventilation is introduced, so that cool air can slowly seep into the equipment and sample or product. That final stage reduces the potential of moisture reabsorption when you pull the sample or product out of the dryer.
Drying Ovens in Different Industries
Industrial ovens are essential to many industries. The heating and drying process they perform is used in the operations of various types of labs, including pharmaceutical, research and development, and electronics. Below are the common applications of drying ovens in different industries.
- Materials Testing
Before manufacturers distribute the final product to consumers, they conduct product testing. But even before that, the materials that go into a product’s creation are tested, too. Testing helps businesses gauge the level of product integrity so that no subpar output gets into the hands of customers.
Take, for instance, the production of plastic products. Factories use drying ovens to simulate conditions that may gradually degrade or age the plastic’s composition, so they know if the end-product can withstand external conditions it will likely be exposed to.
- Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on industrial drying ovens to keep products safe. Some of the processes requiring dryers are incubation and sterilization, which demand differing specifications in terms of dimensions and volumes. A wide variety of samples go into lab ovens for either analysis or application.
Any mishap in these functions will prove critical to a pharmaceutical business—an industry where people’s lives are at stake.
- Factory Environments
Industrial drying ovens prove practical in factory environments, too, especially in settings where there’s a potential for liquid spillage.
Take, for example, beverage production that relies heavily on conveyor systems. These systems may age faster if spillages aren’t properly addressed. The conveyor mechanisms may develop corrosion, affecting their efficiency and disrupting business operations. Factory drying prevents this crisis from happening.
- Research & Development
Two processes prove crucial in research and development: sample preparation and temperature grading. Both require a drying oven at some phase in the procedure.
For example, in food technology, sample preparation may rely on drying ovens to keep moisture off mixtures that have already reached the phase of analysis. The accuracy of this stage in quality control is pivotal to the eventual safety grade of the product.
Meanwhile, temperature grading comes into play when car manufacturers develop new automobile technologies. Engine parts are subjected to levels of heat that mimic what they will have to endure on the road. This procedure seeks to assess if all systems are up to par for practical application.
- Epoxy Resin Market
During production, epoxy resin is highly absorbent and thus cannot be mixed during periods of high humidity. Exposure to moisture can compromise the product’s tensile strength, adhesion, and heat and corrosion resistance.
Epoxy resin manufacturers use an industrial drying oven to create the ideal low-to-zero-humidity environment for production and ensure the end product’s quality.
- Electronics
Moisture is one of the biggest enemies of electronics. The circuits, among other components, adversely react to even the minutest amount of steam or vapor. That is why heat treatment by way of a drying oven remains crucial in electronics production.
Other Functions of Industrial Drying Ovens
Below are specific functions carried out by drying ovens and how they are utilized in various industries.
- Annealing – A process that relieves a material’s (such as glass) internal stresses using heat. In the cooling process, the material increases in strength.
- Calcining – This is the process where ores or solid materials containing calcium are subjected to heat to aid phase transition. The result can either be the removal of volatile chemical composition or the decomposition of calcium bicarbonate to calcium dioxide or calcium oxide.
- Burn-in Testing – Electronic components go through burn-in testing to gauge their capacity to withstand applied heat.
- Sterilization – Glass and metal devices used in the pharmaceutical and medical industries go through sterilization by heating. The process kills bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, thus rendering the materials safe for use.
- Incubation – This is the maintenance of humidity and heat for various purposes, including the culturing of bacteria in research laboratories.
- Sintering – The process by which heat is introduced to compact a material without reaching its melting point. The result is improved durability.
Invest in an Industrial Drying Oven
Industrial drying ovens prove practical in multiple industries. They perform various functions, too. However, if you want to make the most out of your industrial oven investment, it pays to be discerning.
Keep in mind that factory and lab ovens come in different forms such as rotary, conveyor, basic double-wall, vacuum, and forced air oven. Gauge your needs accordingly so that you don’t make an ill-informed purchase.
Check out AI Furnaces’ collection of industrial ovens today to select the best one for your lab.
