The chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process has a key role in advanced manufacturing applications, especially when it comes to manufacturing carbon-carbon (C-C) composites and other high-performance materials. Using induction heated vacuum furnaces in conjunction with CVI has enabled manufacturers to develop a variety of high-quality materials and products, including C-C structures, turbine blades, heat-shield solutions, and high-temperature heat treating.

Here, you’ll learn how combining CVI and induction heating contributes to many applications in advanced manufacturing.

Understanding Chemical Vapor Infiltration

The CVI process entails carefully depositing solid materials derived from vapor-phase precursors onto substrates. These solid materials coat the internal surfaces of porous substrates, increasing their overall density. Precursor materials, vapor transport mechanisms, and precision pressure and temperature control are among the principles behind this process. One process that has enhanced the results of CVI is induction heating, as it allows for more uniform, efficient, and faster heating.

Induction Heated Vacuum Furnaces in CVI

The chemical vapor infiltration process benefits greatly from induction heating technology in multiple ways. Induction heated vacuum furnaces allow for a level of control that’s integral to the CVI process, providing an environment for controlled gas injection mechanisms, temperature control, and vacuum conditions. With the help of induction heating, CVI can be more precise, efficient, and uniform in temperature control and energy transfer, providing the ideal environment for producing many advanced, high-performance materials.

Applications of Chemical Vapor Infiltration

CVI is used mainly in two applications: manufacturing carbon-carbon composites and high-temperature heat treating.

Manufacturing Carbon-Carbon Composites

CVI and induction heating help produce carbon-carbon (C-C) composite materials by depositing carbon-rich materials onto a designated carbon-based substrate. C-C composites are heat-resistant, lightweight, and high-strength, properties that make them suitable for many types of components.

Some specific high-temperature applications of C-C composites include:

  • Heat-shield systems for spacecraft
  • Hypersonic vehicles
  • Stator vanes
  • High-temperature systems like combustion chambers
  • Turbine blades
  • Wet and dry friction applications, including carbon disc brakes and pads

High-Temperature Heat Treating

Through high-temperature heat treatment, CVI can create materials that hold up in high-temperature, specialized applications. As it adds protective coatings and reinforcement, CVI increases the components’ temperature resistance. The aerospace industry, in particular, often needs induction-heated vacuum furnaces and CVI to heat-treat key components, improving their performance and extending their service life in high-temperature conditions.

Chemical Vapor Infiltration: Applicable Industries

Any manufacturer requiring high-density parts would benefit from CVI. Chemical vapor infiltration providers can densify carbon-carbon parts for structural aerospace, space, defense and automotive/wet friction applications.

Another industry that benefits from this process, along with induction heating, is the semiconductor industry, since carbon-carbon is a pure, chemically inert material in corrosive environments. Another application for CVI is hypersonic vehicles requiring temperature-resistant components.

Why Choose Tex Tech for Chemical Vapor Infiltration?

Tex Tech offers induction heated vacuum furnaces capable of high-temperature heat treatments and CVI densification. Our production furnaces measure approximately 76 inches inner diameter with a working height of 80 inches. Tex Tech’s facility is one of only a handful of production facilities of this size in the world. It allows us to densify large parts as well as numerous small parts for high volume applications.

Our cutting-edge facility and equipment have the open capability to perform even new applications, such as for structural aerospace and hypersonics.

Learn More About Chemical Vapor Infiltration from Tex Tech

CVI using induction heated vacuum furnaces can help manufacture high-performance materials for a wide range of applications. These advanced materials are necessary to develop better equipment and technologies that can withstand increasingly challenging environments like extreme temperatures and corrosion.

At Tex Tech, we work with the latest technology in CVI and induction heating to broaden our range of future applications. Since we provide both CVI and heat treatment, you’ll enjoy faster lead times through our consolidated processes. Our large-size furnace can handle both large and small parts to meet your exact production needs.

To learn more about Tex Tech’s products and capabilities, contact us or request a quote today.