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SPS-5T-30-mini Spark Plasma Sintering Furnace
30 kVA Pulsed DC Power Supply | 5-Ton Pressing Force | Vacuum Sintering | PLC Touchscreen Control
Product Overview
The Across International SPS-5T-30-mini Spark Plasma Sintering Furnace is a compact, advanced powder consolidation system designed for rapid sintering, hot pressing and the development of high-performance materials.
Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), also known as Field-Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST), combines pulsed direct-current heating with uniaxial mechanical pressure to consolidate powders in a controlled environment. Unlike conventional furnaces that rely primarily on external heating elements, SPS delivers electrical current through the conductive tooling and, depending on the material, the sample itself.
This approach enables rapid heating, shorter processing cycles and potentially lower sintering temperatures while supporting high material density and controlled microstructural development.
The SPS-5T-30-mini incorporates a 30 kVA pulsed DC power supply, a 5-ton hydraulic pressing system, a vacuum chamber, multiple temperature-monitoring devices and an integrated PLC touchscreen interface.
Designed for universities, research institutes and advanced materials laboratories, the system supports the development and processing of metals, ceramics, composites, functional materials and other specialised powder-based materials.
Key Features
Rapid Pulsed-Current Sintering: Direct electrical heating of conductive tooling supports rapid thermal response and reduced processing time.
5-Ton Hydraulic Press: Programmable pressure control with automatic pressure regulation and holding functions.
30 kVA Pulsed DC Power Supply: Adjustable pulse parameters with instantaneous output current up to 3,000 A.
High-Temperature Processing: Application-dependent operating temperatures, with a stated maximum of up to 2,300°C under specified conditions.
Vacuum Processing Chamber: Designed for sintering under vacuum or a controlled gas atmosphere.
Multi-Point Temperature Monitoring: Upper and lower punch thermocouples, together with infrared temperature measurement.
PLC Touchscreen Control: Centralised operation of heating, pressing, vacuum components, process settings and alarms.
Integrated Safety Interlocks: Protection against overheating, excessive chamber pressure, cooling-water faults, overcurrent and thermocouple failure.
Water-Cooled Components: Cooling circuits protect critical furnace and electrode assemblies.
Compact Research-Oriented Design: Combines sintering, pressing and process monitoring in an integrated laboratory system.
How Spark Plasma Sintering Works
During operation, powder is loaded into a suitable graphite die and positioned between the upper and lower punches inside the furnace chamber. The hydraulic system applies the specified uniaxial force while the vacuum system establishes the required processing atmosphere.
A controlled pulsed DC current passes through the electrically conductive tooling and, where applicable, the sample. Resistive (Joule) heating raises the temperature rapidly while the applied pressure promotes particle rearrangement, deformation, bonding and densification.
The combination of controlled heating, mechanical pressure and processing atmosphere can help achieve dense materials with shorter thermal cycles than many conventional sintering methods.
Although the term Spark Plasma Sintering is widely used, the extent to which plasma or interparticle discharges contribute to densification remains an active research topic. The established operating principles include pulsed-current heating and pressure-assisted consolidation.
Applications
The SPS-5T-30-mini is suitable for research and development involving advanced ceramics, metallic powders and alloys, nanostructured materials, functionally graded materials, composite materials, magnetic materials and other applications requiring controlled powder densification.
Intelligent PLC and Touchscreen Control
The integrated PLC control system provides a centralised interface for managing the sintering process.
Operators can configure temperature and pressure programs, initiate heating and pressing cycles, operate vacuum pumps and valves, and monitor system conditions through the touchscreen.
The interface also provides access to vacuum readings, process status, alarm settings and operating data.
Eurotherm 3504 Temperature Controller
The system is specified with a Eurotherm 3504 programmable temperature controller for process temperature management.
Key capabilities described in the supplied documentation include programmable temperature profiles, PID control, automatic tuning, sensor-failure detection and communication with external automation systems.
The manufacturer also specifies configurable protection functions and power-interruption recovery. The exact program capacity, communication interfaces and restart behaviour depend on the installed controller configuration.
Precision Temperature Monitoring
Temperature monitoring combines contact and non-contact measurement technologies.
Upper and lower punch thermocouples monitor temperatures at critical locations in the pressing assembly, helping operators identify abnormal temperature differences.
A top-mounted infrared pyrometer provides non-contact temperature measurement through the designated optical path.
The supplied configuration identifies a CHINO infrared pyrometer from Japan, with the following manufacturer-stated measuring systems:
Measurement System | Stated Range |
|---|---|
Tungsten-Rhenium Thermocouple | 0–1,800°C |
Infrared Pyrometer | 1,000–3,200°C |
Two-Colour Infrared Measurement | 600–3,000°C |
The exact pyrometer model and measuring range should be confirmed before publication.
Hydraulic Pressing System
The electrically operated hydraulic system applies controlled uniaxial force to the sample during sintering.
The assembly incorporates a hydraulic power unit, proportional control valve, pressure sensor, hydraulic cylinder and position-measurement system.
The manufacturer specifies a linear position measurement resolution or accuracy of 0.02 mm.
Operators can select manual or automatic pressure regulation, program pressure settings through the touchscreen, and maintain pressure during the sintering cycle.