| 摘要 |
The invention relates to a process for creating an atmosphere for the heat treatment of metals, the atmosphere being produced by introducing a stream of gaseous nitrogen, according to which there is first formed, by air separation by means of selective permeation, a crude gaseous nitrogen stream having a residual oxygen content, to which is added a stream of hydrogen which is at least sufficient to remove most of the residual oxygen by catalytic reaction to form water vapour, characterised by the combined implementation of the following measures: a) the air separation by selective permeation is carried out in such a way that the gaseous nitrogen stream has a residual oxygen content of between 0.5% and 3%; b) the catalytic reaction to form water vapour is brought about exclusively with catalysts which are used without external application of heat, and c) the catalytic reaction to form water vapour is carried out in such a way that the residual oxygen content is less than 30 vpm, with a water vapour content of between 1% and 6%, relative to the nitrogen stream, being created. Exclusive application to the annealing or brazing of copper, the decarburising and nitriding annealing of steels, and the sintering of copper, nickel and copper-nickel alloys where appropriate with lead, and copper-zinc alloys. |
