Industrial Curing Ovens

An industrial Curing Oven is an oven used to cure composite materials and coatings. Curing is a term in polymer chemistry and process engineering that refers to the toughening or hardening of a polymer material by cross-linking of polymer chains, brought about by chemical additives and heat. In rubber, the curing process is also called vulcanization.

Composite materials (abbreviated to 'composites') comprise of materials engineered from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. Ovens are used to add heat to the formation process of composites in order promote bonding, shaping, hardening and curing.

< Please click the curing oven image to enlarge

Composite materials are used in high-performance products that need to be lightweight and strong enough to take harsh loading conditions.

These are used widely throughout aerospace, automotive and marine industries and many others. Products include aeroplane wings and fuselage, boat hulls and yachts, car body parts, fishing rods, storage tanks, showers, baths and many many more.

Coatings are coverings applied to the surface of an object referred to as the substrate. Generally applied to improve the appearance of an object and to provide protection through corrosion resistance, wear resistance and scratch resistance.

These products need longer curing times and importantly venting of solvents to atmosphere making Airflow Curing Ovens an ideal solution due to the high number of air changes per minutes that Airflow ovens achieve. Paints are usually dried at for between 20/30 minutes at 60/80°C.

Powder Coatings are paints without a vehicle, which use electrostatic applications to transfer to and adhere to substrates. When a thermoset powder is exposed to elevated temperature, it begins to melt, flows out, and then chemically reacts to form a higher molecular weight polymer in a network-like structure. This cure process, called 'cross linking' requires a certain degree of temperature for a certain length of time in order to reach full cure and establish the full film. Powder Coatings are normally cured at 200°C in approximately 10 minutes.

Garment Chemical Curing - Clothing fabrics are more and more frequently being treated with chemicals to achieve decorative effects all of which need curing. There are many other specialist coating which use Airflow industrial Curing Ovens such as Cermally, Polymer coatings, such as Teflon.

Airflow Curing Ovens are designed to cause a chemical reaction in a substance once a specific temperature is reached. This may sound simple but many factors come into play when designing an oven to achieve this efficiently including; the weight of the substrate, the substrate composition and its ability to conduct heat, the products evaporation rate and extraction of solvent, the temperature ramp up and hold time and perhaps most importantly the 'Airflow' within the oven.

Airflow Curing Ovens are designed from strong structural frame providing a rigid dimensional framework, which allows for expansion and contraction without stressing insulated panels. This construction allows the entire oven to be raised as one for easy relocation of the complete unit. Doors are constructed of rigid frames to prevent 'bowing' and 'close fit' when both hot and cold with 'sprung steel seals' completing the closures. All doors contain an Internal door handle to prevent entrapment.

Insulation is provided by up to 100mm High Density Stabilised Mineral Insulations drastically reducing running costs and providing a cool exterior. Airflow Curing Ovens are available in Natural Gas or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), electrically heated, Steam or hot water, indirect oil or gas. Modern fuel-efficient gas burners are used with remote re-sets and on board electronic diagnostics. More recently Airflow has introduced 'Modulated Gas Burners' to their curing ovens. These vary the gas pressure and provide combustion air fan control to accurately control the heat from the system

These incorporate sophisticated controls, which modulates the gas valve and the combustion air blower to maintain substantially stoichiometric conditions of the gas and air provided greater efficiencies. Gas savings of up to 8% can be achieved with these modulated gas burners.

Airflow Curing Ovens incorporate the latest PID (proportional integral derivative) Controllers, which correct the error between a measured process variable and a desired set point by calculating and then outputting a corrective action that can adjust the process accordingly. In short the act as intelligent temperature controllers that learn how ovens characteristics and how to maintain the optimum temperature for the component within the oven, cancelling out temperature variations. This sounds complicated but the controllers are simple to use with user-friendly programming functionality.

Airflow Curing Ovens incorporate powerful twin air circulations fans. This is key to achieving uniformity of temperature throughout the oven. By achieving 6 to 8 hot air changes per minute hot and cold spots within the oven are eliminated. The kW rating and CFM/cubic metres per minute capabilities of the fans are tailored specifically to the Airflow Curing Ovens dependant on size and temperature requirements. This is why it is important to speak to Airflow. We dont just make box ovens; we take the time to ensure your individual Airflow Curing Ovens will give you optimal performance and energy use.

Rating the fans on one thing, delivering the Airflow is another. That why all of Airflow s Curing Ovens incorporate bespoke ducting delivery system with first and second stage damping controls. This enables high volume, low-pressure air delivery that is ideal for powder coating or delicate products.

Airflow Curing Ovens incorporate integral mechanical and electrical interlocked exhaust fans. Powerful fans ensure the oven runs at negative pressure to ensure that no fumes escape into the factory environment. These fans are also used a purge fans to quickly extract any resident solvent from the oven prior to commencing heating. Airflow Curing Ovens contain full explosion relief to the roof of the oven and the heater box in compliance with HSG16 Regulations.

Airflow Curing Ovens are all full CE Marked to legally comply with the EEC Machinery Directive and a full technical files including risk assessment to all parts of the curing oven can be supplied. Airflow Curing Ovens comply with the EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Equipment designed for use within certain Voltage limits.

Airflow specialise in Vacuum Forming Curing Ovens building bespoke Vacuum Forming Curing Ovens. Composites are often placed in moulds that require vacuum pipes to be connected. Airflow build bespoke manifolds through the oven walls to permit access for vacuum pipelines to the moulds. Moulds consist of lower sides, which is a rigid, and an upper side, which is a flexible membrane or vacuum bag. The flexible membrane can be a reusable silicone material or an extruded polymer film. A vacuum is applied to the mould cavity with ambient atmospheric pressure acting upon the vacuum bag to form the product.

All Airflow Curing Ovens come pre-tested. We assemble complete units and test these in our facility prior to dispatching pre-assembles which means you can rapidly install the curing oven with minimum disturbance to you production line. Airflow guarantee certifiable performance immediately upon switch on.

Airflow Curing Ovens are a single unit, which an easily moveable unlike our competitor who assembles on your site with pre-testing and whose product has to be dismantled to by moved. Airflow provide built in craning eyes for easy relocation of your oven.

Airflow commission all curing oven installations by temperature mapping and data logging to laptop the ovens performance upon installation to you site. This gives Airflow the opportunity to 'balance' the ovens performance specifically to your composite material, component or coating substrate and choice of coating.

With many many Airflow Curing Ovens in use we have a track record of supplying the top international corporations from Aerospace to Formula 1. They all choose an Airflow Curing Oven.

Nobody builds a Curing Oven like Airflow. We provide exceptional product quality combined with the latest innovations. Airflow take the time to design and engineer curing ovens to your specific requirements taking into account all the variables to ensure optimal performance, reliability and running costs specifically tailored to your component, composite material or substrate and curing temperature requirement.

We take strides to control our costs in order that we may pass on these saving to you and achieve competitive prices for all our products. With a fleet of our own engineers we are positioned to provide full emergency call out cover, service and maintenance. We provide bespoke spare parts and consumables. Why it is important to speak to Airflow. We dont just make box ovens, we take the time to ensure your individually tailored Airflow Curing Oven will give you optimal performance, reliability, energy use and low running costs. Combined with our proven track record, excellent customer focused service, support and maintenance you can buy with confidence.

Please browse our website for more information about our rapid specification, quotation, manufacturing, installation & after sales Curing Oven service then contact us on 01142 327788 to speak to one of our team or e-mail us on sales@airflow-group.com.