JP2013032266A - Heat treatment apparatus for porous glass preform - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass preform capable of preventing deformation of a furnace core tube over a longer period in comparison with conventional ones.SOLUTION: This heat treatment apparatus 1 has a heating element 5 and a furnace body 3 for holding the heating element 5. A soaking tube 7 is provided on the inner surface side of the heating element 5. The soaking tube 7 transfers heat from the heating element 5 uniformly to a heating object. Preferably, the soaking tube 7 is made of, for example, carbon in consideration of heat resistance against use at high temperature, cost or the like. A furnace core tube 9 is inserted on the inner surface side of the soaking tube 7. The outer circumferential surface of the furnace core tube 9 is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the soaking tube 7. Consequently, at least in a heating region by the heating element 5, the outer circumferential surface side of the furnace core tube 9 is supported by the inner circumferential surface of the soaking tube 7. A coating 7a is provided on a contact part between the furnace core tube 9 and the soaking tube 7. The coating 7 is a coating of silicon carbide.

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material for vitrifying the porous glass base material by heat treatment.

  In order to manufacture a glass base material for an optical fiber, for example, there is a method in which a porous glass base material manufactured by an OVD method (Outside Vapor Deposition method) or the like is heat treated to be vitrified.

  As a heat treatment apparatus for vitrifying the porous glass base material, for example, a heat treatment apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 11 is used. The heat treatment apparatus 100 mainly includes a furnace body 103 that holds a heating element 105, a heat equalizing tube 107 installed inside the furnace body 103, a furnace core tube 109 installed inside the heat equalizing tube 107, and the like. .

  The core tube 109 has a flange 109a protruding from the upper outer periphery and a flange 109b protruding from the lower outer periphery. The flange 109 a is placed on the upper surface of the furnace body 103, and the flange 109 b is placed on the bottom surface of the furnace body 103, so that the furnace core tube 109 is supported by the furnace body 103.

The upper end of the core tube 103 is closed by an upper lid, and a hole 115 is formed in the upper lid. The hole 115 is a part that penetrates the support member that supports the porous glass base material 117. A processing gas inlet 111 is provided at the lower end of the core tube 109, and He gas, Cl ₂ gas, or the like is supplied into the core tube 109. Further, an exhaust port 113 for exhausting the exhaust gas in the core tube 109 is provided at the upper part of the core tube 109.

  The soaking tube 107 is for heating the porous glass base material 117 uniformly by preventing temperature unevenness due to the arrangement of the heating element 105. The furnace core tube 109 is usually made of quartz from the viewpoints of heat resistance, corrosion resistance to the processing gas, etc., and prevention of contamination of the porous glass base material disposed therein. The soaking tube 107 is made of carbon because of its heat resistance and its strength.

  In order to heat-treat the quartz-based porous glass base material 117, it is usually necessary to heat it to 1400 ° C. or higher. However, if used at such a high temperature for a long time, the quartz core tube 109 may be deformed. That is, the core tube 109 may be softened by heat and may be deformed (such as buckling) by its own weight.

  As a method for suppressing the deformation of the quartz core tube 109 during such use, for example, a heating furnace provided with a core tube self-weight dividing load means that divides and bears the self-weight of the core tube in the longitudinal direction has been proposed. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-226217 A

  However, when the soaking tube made of carbon and the quartz core tube made of quartz are in contact with each other at a high temperature as described above, the core will be used for a long time even though the core tube is supported by the soaking tube. Deformation of the tube proceeds. That is, in the conventional method, it is difficult to reliably prevent the deformation of the core tube, and a heat treatment apparatus that can be used stably over a longer period is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material that can suppress deformation of the core tube more than the conventional one. .

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material, which is provided in a quartz core tube in which a porous glass base material can be disposed, and on the outer periphery of the core tube. A soaking tube; a heating element provided on an outer periphery of the soaking tube; and a furnace body covering the heating element, wherein the soaking tube has at least a part of a region heated by the heating element. And at least a contact portion of the soaking tube with the core tube is made of silicon carbide.

  The soaking tube is made of carbon, and a contact portion of the soaking tube with the core tube may be coated with silicon carbide, and the soaking tube is made of silicon carbide disposed at the contact portion with the core tube. The spacer may be provided.

  On the outer surface of the core tube, a plurality of flange portions protruding in the radial direction are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the heat equalizing tube is divided into a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, The flange may be supported by each of the divided heat equalizing tubes, and the upper and lower end surfaces and the inner surface of the divided heat equalizing tubes may be made of silicon carbide.

  On the outer surface of the core tube, a plurality of bowl-shaped first ribs projecting in the radial direction are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the first rib section is fitted on the inner surface of the heat equalizing tube. A possible saddle-shaped second collar is formed, the first collar and the second collar are fitted, the core tube is supported by the soaking tube, the first collar and The surface of the second flange that contacts the furnace core tube may be made of silicon carbide.

  According to the present invention, since the quartz core tube is brought into contact with the soaking tube, the core tube can be supported by the soaking tube, and the portion in contact with the core tube is made of silicon carbide. It is possible to suppress the reduction reaction of quartz by carbon at the contact interface between the soaking tube and the soaking tube. For this reason, consumption of the soaking tube can be suppressed, and the deformation of the reactor core tube can be suppressed.

  Note that the use of silicon carbide can be minimized by coating silicon carbide only on necessary portions of the carbon surface. Further, a spacer made of silicon carbide may be provided in a part of the soaking tube instead of the coating to prevent direct contact between the soaking tube made of quartz and the carbon.

  Also, a plurality of flanges projecting in the radial direction are formed on the outer surface of the soaking tube, and the core tube (saddle) is supported by the soaking tube divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the reactor core tube and to make the portion that contacts the reactor core tube and the portion that may be contacted by some deformation of the reactor core tube with silicon carbide, so that the heat equalizing tube, etc. Consumption can be suppressed, and further progress of deformation of the core tube can be suppressed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the heat processing apparatus of the porous glass base material which can suppress a deformation | transformation of a core tube more compared with the past can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the heat processing apparatus 1, (a) is a schematic block diagram, (b) is the A section enlarged view of (a). The figure which shows the equilibrium constant of each reaction. The schematic block diagram which shows the heat processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing configurations of a core tube 23 and a soaking tube 21. FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view showing the configuration of the core tube 23 and the soaking tube 21. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the flange portion 23b, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in the G portion of FIG. The exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the core tube 23 and the soaking | uniform-heating tube 21 at the time of using the spacer 31. FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a flange 23b with respect to FIG. The schematic block diagram which shows the heat processing apparatus. The figure which shows the other form of the collar part 23b. The schematic block diagram which shows the conventional heat processing apparatus 100. FIG.

  Hereinafter, the heat processing apparatus 1 concerning embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram of the heat treatment apparatus 1. The heat treatment apparatus 1 mainly includes a furnace body 3, a heating element 5, a soaking tube 7, a furnace core tube 9, and the like.

The heat treatment apparatus 1 includes a heating element 5 and a furnace body 3 that holds the heating element 5. The heating element 5 can heat the porous glass base material to be heat-treated to, for example, 1400 ° C. or higher. Note that an inert gas such as Ar gas or N ₂ gas can be supplied into the furnace body 3.

  A soaking tube 7 is provided on the inner surface side of the heating element 5. The soaking tube 7 conducts heat from the heating element 5 uniformly to the object to be heated. The soaking tube 7 is preferably made of, for example, carbon in consideration of heat resistance and cost for use at high temperatures.

  A core tube 9 is inserted on the inner surface side of the soaking tube 7. The outer peripheral surface of the core tube 9 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the soaking tube 7. Therefore, at least in the heating region by the heating element 5, the outer peripheral surface side of the core tube 9 is supported by the inner peripheral surface of the soaking tube 7.

A processing gas inlet 11 is provided on the lower end side of the core tube 9. Further, an exhaust port 13 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the core tube 9. A processing gas (He gas, Cl ₂ gas or the like) is supplied from the processing gas inlet 11 into the core tube 9 (in the direction of arrow B in the figure). Further, the gas inside the furnace core tube 9 is discharged from the exhaust port 13 (in the direction of arrow C in the figure).

  An upper lid is provided at the upper end of the core tube 9, and a hole 15 is formed in the upper lid. The hole 15 is a portion into which a support member that supports the porous glass base material 17 is inserted. The porous glass base material 17 disposed inside the core tube 9 is gradually moved downward while rotating. By doing in this way, when the porous glass preform 17 passes through the high temperature region inside the furnace core tube 9, it is heat-treated in the processing gas and can be vitrified sequentially from the lower part. In order to vitrify the quartz-based porous glass base material 17, the heat treatment temperature is desirably 1400 ° C. or higher. Under the present circumstances, the temperature of the contact part of the soaking | uniform-heating tube 7 and the core tube 9 will be about 1400-1450 degreeC, for example.

  FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 1A, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the contact portion between the core tube 9 and the soaking tube 7. As described above, the soaking tube 7 is made of carbon. A coating 7 a is provided on the surface of the soaking tube 7 and the contact portion with the core tube 9. The coating 7a is a silicon carbide coating.

  The thickness of the coating 7a is desirably 50 μm to 200 μm. If the coating 7a is thinner than 50 μm, the effect of the present invention cannot be sufficiently obtained. Further, even if the coating 7a is thicker than 200 μm, it is difficult to obtain an effect any more, and it is difficult to obtain a sufficient effect on cost. Therefore, the thickness of the coating 7a is set within the above range. As the coating 7a, it is desirable to form a dense coating layer, and it is preferable to form it by, for example, CVD.

  Moreover, as a base material which comprises the soaking | uniform-heating pipe | tube 7, it is desirable that it is a product made from carbon which has a substantially equivalent linear expansion coefficient with respect to the silicon carbide which comprises the coating 7a. If the heat treatment apparatus 1 configured as described above is used, the quartz core tube 9 is supported on the outer peripheral side by the heat equalizing tube 7 in the high temperature region, so that deformation thereof is suppressed.

Here, when the inventors contact the quartz core tube 9 and the carbon soaking tube 7 without applying the coating 7a, the following reaction proceeds at the interface at the use temperature of 1400 ° C. or higher. I found out.
SiO ₂ + C → SiO + CO (1)

  That is, as in the equation (1), the carbon of the soaking tube and the quartz of the furnace core tube are consumed by the reaction. For this reason, when the surface of the soaking tube 7 or the like is consumed, it becomes difficult to sufficiently support the core tube 9, and the core tube 9 is also thinned and undergoes deformation. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the core tube 9 and the like every predetermined period with the deformation of the core tube 9 and the like.

On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present invention, the quartz core tube 9 is not in direct contact with the carbon constituting the soaking tube 7. That is, by constituting the surface of the soaking tube 7 with silicon carbide, the reaction of the formula (1) does not proceed and the following reaction proceeds.
2SiO ₂ + SiC → 3SiO + CO (2)

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the equilibrium constants at the respective temperatures of the reactions of the equations (1) and (2). 2 corresponds to the reaction of formula (1) (SiO ₂ (s) + C (s) = SiO (g) + CO (g)), and L represents the reaction of formula (2) (2SiO ₂ ( s) + SiC (s) = 3SiO (g) + CO (g)).

  As is clear from FIG. 2, at around 1400 ° C., the equilibrium constant of the reaction of formula (2) is about five orders of magnitude smaller than the equilibrium constant of the reaction of formula (1). Therefore, the reaction of the formula (2) hardly proceeds as compared with the reaction of the formula (1). That is, the inventors have made the surface of the soaking tube 7 silicon carbide, so that silicon carbide is not easily consumed compared to carbon (because the reaction does not proceed). It was found that it can be suppressed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the soaking tube and the like as compared with the conventional case where the core tube is supported by the soaking tube made of only carbon. For this reason, deformation of the core tube can be suppressed. Therefore, the life of the core tube can be extended and the core tube can be used continuously over a long period of time. For this reason, the productivity of the optical fiber preform can be increased.

  In particular, in the present invention, the reaction between carbon and oxygen gas is not suppressed, but the reaction at the contact portion between quartz and carbon at the contact portion with the core tube is only suppressed. For this reason, the coating 7a has only to be formed on the portion that contacts the core tube.

  In addition, this invention can acquire a higher effect, when the heat processing furnace used as object is a pressure reduction furnace which heat-processes, depressurizing the whole furnace body. This is because a reduced atmosphere is obtained by reducing the pressure, and the partial pressure of oxygen in the vicinity of the contact portion is reduced. Therefore, the above reaction equations (equations (1) and (2)) tend to proceed to the right, and the reducing atmosphere Therefore, the reduction reaction of the core tube is likely to proceed. For this reason, in the conventional method, the consumption of the soaking tube proceeds rapidly, but according to the present invention, this consumption can be reliably suppressed.

  Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a view showing the heat treatment apparatus 20. In the following description, components having the same functions as those of the heat treatment apparatus 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The heat treatment apparatus 20 differs from the heat treatment apparatus 1 in the configuration of the core tube and the soaking tube.

  The quartz core tube 23 made of quartz has a flange portion 23a protruding from the upper outer periphery and a flange portion 23c protruding from the lower outer periphery. The flange portion 23 a is placed on the upper surface of the furnace body 3, and the flange portion 23 c is placed on the bottom surface of the furnace body 3, so that the furnace core tube 23 is supported by the furnace body 3. In addition, a plurality of flanges 23b are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction in the middle of the flanges 23a and 23c of the core tube 23. The flange portion 23 b is projected from the outer periphery of the core tube 23.

The porous glass base material 17 disposed inside the core tube 23 is heated by the plurality of heating elements 5 while being rotated. By doing in this way, the porous glass base material 17 can be vitrified inside the core tube 9.
In addition, since the heat processing apparatus 20 has the several heat generating body 5 in the longitudinal direction, the full length of the porous glass base material 17 can be heated simultaneously by making these several heat generating bodies 5 into high temperature simultaneously. Moreover, it is also possible to heat sequentially from one end of the porous glass preform 17 by moving the heating zone formed by the heating element 5 by controlling energization to each heating element.
As described above, the heat treatment apparatus 20 having the plurality of heating elements 5 in the longitudinal direction is more likely to deform the core tube than the heat treatment apparatus 1 having one heating element 5 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the present invention is applied to the heat treatment apparatus 20 having a plurality of heating elements 5 in the longitudinal direction, a greater effect can be obtained.

  On the outer periphery of the core tube 23, soaking tubes 21 are provided at a predetermined interval. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the core tube 23 and the soaking tube 21, and FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view. The soaking tube 21 is divided into a plurality of pieces in the longitudinal direction. The soaking tube 21 is divided into a plurality (two in the figure) in the circumferential direction by the split portion 25.

  The divided heat equalizing tubes 21 are disposed between the adjacent flanges 23b (between the flanges 23b and the flanges 23a or 23c) (in the direction of arrow F in the figure). That is, the soaking tubes 21 divided in the circumferential direction are fitted on the outer periphery of the core tube 23 so as to face each other. Moreover, each soaking | uniform-heating tube 21 divided | segmented into the longitudinal direction is set to the length between each flange part 23b adjacent to the upper and lower sides. Therefore, the own weight of the core tube 23 itself is divided by the plurality of soaking tubes 21 in the longitudinal direction and is borne. That is, the core tube 23 is supported by the soaking tube 21, and the core tube 23 is prevented from buckling and deforming due to its own weight during high temperature heating.

  6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the flange portion 23b, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in the G portion of FIG. A coating 21 a is formed on the inner surface 27 (the surface facing the core tube 23) of the heat equalizing tube 21 and the upper and lower end surfaces 29. The coating 21a has the same configuration as the coating 7a described above, and is made of silicon carbide.

  That is, since the coating 21 a is formed on the end surface 29 that contacts the core tube 23 (each flange), the quartz core tube 23 does not directly contact carbon that is the base material of the heat equalizing tube 21. Therefore, the reaction of the above-described equation (1) does not proceed at the contact interface between the core tube 23 and the soaking tube 21, and the consumption of the soaking tube 21 and the like is suppressed, thereby suppressing the deformation of the core tube 23. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the coating 21 a is also formed on the inner surface 27 of the soaking tube 21. This is because the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the core tube 23 and the inner peripheral surface of the soaking tube 21 is small, so when the core tube 23 is slightly deformed, the core tube 23 comes into contact with the inner surface of the soaking tube 21, and this contact portion In order to prevent the reaction of the formula (1) described above from proceeding.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the own weight of the core tube 23 is divided into a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction and supported by the soaking tube 21, so that buckling deformation of the core tube 23 can be suppressed. Moreover, since the coating 21a is provided in the site | part which contacts the furnace core tube 23, the soaking | uniform-heating tube 21 suppresses consumption of a soaking tube etc. compared with the case where carbon and a reactor core tube contact conventionally. it can. For this reason, deformation of the core tube can be suppressed. Therefore, the life of the core tube can be extended and the core tube can be used continuously over a long period of time.

  FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the core tube 23 and the soaking tube 21 when the spacer 31 is further used for the heat treatment apparatus 20, and FIG. 8 is a diagram of FIG. 6 when the spacer 31 is used. It is sectional drawing corresponding to.

  The spacer 31 is a member made of silicon carbide. As shown in FIG. 7, the spacer 31 is disposed with the soaking tube 21 between the adjacent flange portions 23 b (between the flange portion 23 b and the flange portion 23 a or 23 c) (in the direction of arrow I in the figure). Further, the length obtained by adding the respective heat equalizing tubes 21 divided in the longitudinal direction and the thickness of the spacer 31 provided above and below is set to the length between the upper and lower adjacent flange portions 23b. Therefore, the own weight of the core tube 23 itself is divided and burdened by the plurality of soaking tubes 21 and the spacers 31 in the longitudinal direction.

  In the present invention, the spacer 31 is treated as a part constituting the soaking tube 21. The spacer 31 does not have to have the same cross-sectional shape as the heat equalizing tube 21, and may be formed at least on part of the upper and lower end surfaces 29 of the heat equalizing tube 21.

  As shown in FIG. 8, by using the spacer 31, the base material (carbon) of the soaking tube 21 and the core tube 23 (the flange 23 b) are not in direct contact, and the core tube 23 is soaked through the spacer 31. 21 is supported. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the soaking tube and the like. For this reason, deformation of the core tube can be suppressed.

  Next, still another embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a view showing the heat treatment apparatus 40. The heat treatment apparatus 40 is a so-called decompression furnace. In the following description, components having the same functions as those of the heat treatment apparatus 1 or the heat treatment apparatus 20 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. The heat treatment apparatus 40 is different from the heat treatment apparatuses 1 and 20 in the configuration of the core tube 23, the furnace body 3, and the soaking tube 21.

  The quartz core tube 23 made of quartz has a flange portion 23c projecting from the outer periphery of the lower portion. The flange 23 c is placed on the bottom surface of the furnace body 3, and the furnace core tube 23 is supported by the furnace body 3. In addition, a plurality of flanges 23b are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction in the middle of the flanges 23a and 23c of the core tube 23. The flange portion 23 b is projected from the outer periphery of the core tube 23.

  The porous glass base material 17 disposed inside the core tube 23 is heated by the plurality of heating elements 5 while being rotated. By doing so, the porous glass base material 17 can be vitrified inside the core tube 23.

  A vacuum pump 47 is connected to the heat treatment apparatus 40. The gas introduced into the core tube 23 from the processing gas inlet 11 is exhausted from the processing gas outlet 43 by the vacuum pump 47. The gas introduced into the furnace body 3 from the furnace body gas inlet 41 can be exhausted from the furnace body gas outlet 45 by the vacuum pump 47 and depressurized.

  In addition, since the heat processing apparatus 40 has the several heat generating body 5 in the longitudinal direction, the full length of the porous glass preform | base_material 17 can be heated simultaneously by making these several heat generating bodies 5 into high temperature simultaneously. Moreover, it is also possible to heat sequentially from one end of the porous glass preform 17 by moving the heating zone formed by the heating element 5 by controlling energization to each heating element.

  As described above, the heat treatment apparatus 40 having the plurality of heating elements 5 in the longitudinal direction is more likely to deform the core tube 23 than the heat treatment apparatus 1 having one heating element 5 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the present invention is applied to the heat treatment apparatus 40 having the plurality of heating elements 5 in the longitudinal direction, a greater effect can be obtained.

  Similar to the heat treatment apparatus 20, soaking tubes 21 are provided on the outer periphery of the core tube 23 at a predetermined interval. The soaking tube 21 is divided into a plurality of pieces in the longitudinal direction. The soaking tube 21 is divided into a plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction. The divided heat equalizing tubes 21 are arranged between the adjacent flanges 23b (between the flanges 23b and the flanges 23a or 23c). Moreover, each soaking | uniform-heating tube 21 divided | segmented into the longitudinal direction is set to the length between each flange part 23b adjacent to the upper and lower sides. Therefore, the own weight of the core tube 23 itself is divided by the plurality of soaking tubes 21 in the longitudinal direction and is borne. That is, the core tube 23 is supported by the soaking tube 21, and the core tube 23 is prevented from buckling and deforming due to its own weight during high temperature heating.

  As mentioned above, according to the heat processing apparatus 40, the effect similar to the heat processing apparatus 20 can be acquired. In particular, in the reduced pressure furnace, the above-described equation (1) is likely to proceed to the right, so that a greater effect can be obtained.

  The configuration in the vicinity of the flange 23b may be configured as shown in FIG. 6 as described above, or may be configured as shown in FIG. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the collar part 23b is good also as a bowl shape.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, a bowl-shaped flange 23 b is provided on the outer periphery of the core tube 23. The flange portion 23b is formed to protrude from the outer periphery of the core tube 23 and bend downward at the tip. On the other hand, the soaking tube 21 is provided with a flange 23d. The flange portion 23d protrudes toward the inner surface side of the core tube 23, and is formed with a tip bent upward. The flange portion 23b and the flange portion 23d can be fitted to each other. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the heat equalizing tube 21 has a halved shape. In addition, about the longitudinal direction of the soaking | uniform-heating pipe | tube 21, it may be integral and may divide | segment into plurality similarly to FIG. 4, FIG.

  The inner diameter of the soaking tube 21 is larger than the outer diameter including the flange 23 b formed on the outer periphery of the core tube 23. Further, the inner diameter of the heat equalizing tube 21 at the position of the flange portion 23d is larger than the outer diameter of the core tube 23 other than the flange portion 23b. The gap between the inner surface side of the flange 23d and the outer surface of the core tube 23 is smaller than the gap between the outer surface of the flange 23b and the inner surface of the heat equalizing tube 21. Therefore, when the flange portion 23b and the flange portion 23d are fitted, the core tube 23 (the flange portion 23b) does not contact the soaking tube 21 except for the flange portion 23d.

  The above-described coating 21a is formed on a portion of the flange portion 23d that may come into contact with the soaking tube 21 (the flange portion 23b). Therefore, the quartz core tube 23 is not in direct contact with the carbon that is the base material of the soaking tube 21. Therefore, the reaction of the above-described equation (1) does not proceed at the contact interface between the core tube 23 and the soaking tube 21, and the consumption of the soaking tube 21 and the like is suppressed, thereby suppressing the deformation of the core tube 23. it can. In order to prevent contact with the soaking tube 21 when the core tube 23 is deformed, a coating 21a may be formed on the inner surface of the soaking tube 21 other than 23d.

  Hereinafter, long-term use was performed using various heat treatment apparatuses having a quartz core tube and a carbon soaking tube, and the life of the core tube at that time was investigated. In any of the heat treatment apparatuses, the maximum temperature of the contact portion between the core tube and the soaking tube was about 1450 ° C. The results are shown in Table 1.

  Heat treatment equipment No. Reference numeral 1 denotes a structure substantially similar to that of the heat treatment apparatus 1 shown in FIG. As the coating 7a in FIG. 1, 50 μm of silicon carbide was formed by CVD.

  Heat treatment equipment No. 2 has substantially the same structure as the heat treatment apparatus 20 shown in FIG. As the coating 21a in FIG. 6, 100 μm of silicon carbide was formed by CVD.

  Heat treatment equipment No. 3 has substantially the same structure as that of the heat treatment apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, but the soaking tube is not coated and the carbon and the core tube are in direct contact with each other.

  Heat treatment equipment No. 4 has substantially the same structure as that of the heat treatment apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 3, but the soaking tube is not coated, and the carbon and the core tube are in direct contact with each other.

  As shown in Table 1, the heat treatment apparatus No. 1 coated with the coating according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1, no. No. 2 could be continuously used for a long time without damaging the core tube.

  On the other hand, the heat treatment apparatus No. which is not coated. In No. 3, the core tube was buckled and deformed after about 1 year of use. When the inside was confirmed, the heat sink tube was worn and thinned.

  Similarly, the heat treatment apparatus No. In No. 4, the core tube was buckled and cracked after about 7 months of use. When the inside was confirmed, it was found that the soaking tube was consumed and the core tube could not be supported.

  As described above, the quartz core tube is supported by the soaking tube, so that the deformation of the core tube is suppressed, and the silicon carbide coating is applied to the contact portion, thereby suppressing the consumption of the soaking tube at the contact portion. And the deformation | transformation of the core tube which accompanies this can be suppressed. For this reason, the lifetime of a core tube can be lengthened.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, the technical scope of this invention is not influenced by embodiment mentioned above. It is obvious for those skilled in the art that various modifications or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs.

  For example, it goes without saying that the configurations of the embodiments described above can be combined with each other. For example, the configuration of the flanges 23b and 23d illustrated in FIG. 10 may be applied to the heat treatment apparatuses 1 and 20. Even if the soaking tube is entirely made of silicon carbide, the same effect can naturally be obtained. The material such as coating may be other than silicon carbide. For example, at a working temperature (about 1400 ° C.), a substance having a small equilibrium constant of reaction with quartz (for example, a substance smaller than 5 digits) is used in the same manner as silicon carbide with respect to the equilibrium constant of equation (1) described above. Also good.

1, 20, 40 ......... heat treatment device 3 ......... furnace body 5 ......... heating elements 7, 21 ......... soaking tubes 7a, 21a ......... coating 9, 23 ......... core tube 11 ......... processing Gas inlet 13... Exhaust port 15... Hole 17... Porous glass base materials 23 a, 23 b, 23 c. ......... Spacer 41 ......... Furnace gas inlet 43 ......... Process gas outlet 45 ......... Furnant gas outlet 47 ...... Vacuum pump 100 ...... Heat treatment apparatus 103 ...... Furnace 105 ... ...... Heating element 107 ...... Soaking tube 109 ...... Core tube 109 a, 109 b ...... Hut 111 ...... Process gas introduction port 113 ...... Exhaust port 115 ...... Hole 117 …… Porous glass Base material

Claims (5)

A heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material,
A quartz core tube in which a porous glass base material can be placed; and
A soaking tube provided on the outer periphery of the core tube;
A heating element provided on the outer periphery of the soaking tube;
A furnace body covering the heating element;
Comprising
In the soaking tube, at least a part of a region heated by the heating element is in contact with the core tube, and at least a contact portion of the soaking tube with the core tube is made of silicon carbide. Heat treatment equipment for quality glass base material.   2. The heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material according to claim 1, wherein the soaking tube is made of carbon, and silicon carbide is coated on a contact portion of the soaking tube with the furnace core tube. The soaking tube is made of carbon,
2. The heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material according to claim 1, wherein the soaking tube includes a spacer made of silicon carbide disposed at a contact portion with the furnace core tube. 3. On the outer surface of the core tube, a plurality of flanges protruding in the radial direction are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction,
The soaking tube is divided into a plurality in the longitudinal direction and a plurality in the circumferential direction.
The flange is supported by each of the divided soaking tubes,
The heat treatment apparatus for a porous glass base material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein upper and lower end surfaces and an inner surface of the divided soaking tube are made of silicon carbide. On the outer surface of the core tube, a plurality of saddle-shaped first flanges projecting in the radial direction are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction,
On the inner surface of the heat equalizing tube, a hook-shaped second hook part that can be fitted to the first hook part is formed,
The first flange and the second flange are fitted, and the core tube is supported by the soaking tube,
The porous glass base material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein surfaces of the first collar part and the second collar part in contact with the core tube are made of silicon carbide. Heat treatment equipment.

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