The same applies to all other alloys where the thinnest possible layer of oxide is required (e.g. to extend the service life of deep drawing dies), and also to clad strip (e.g. for manufacturing car radiators).
The HICON® batch-type furnace reduces temperature scatter to a minimum throughout the whole charge whilst keeping heating-up times as short as possible (e.g. for partial anneals: Δt less than ±3°C at the end of the soaking time). The gas-tight design of the batch furnace enables trace oxygen contents of less than 0.05 %v/v to be achieved.
Foil coils are processed with a special annealing program that allows the rolling lubricant to evaporate without trace so that sticking is prevented and the necessary surface cleanliness is guaranteed. Anneals in process atmosphere provide the advantage that the necessary surface cleanliness is achieved in the shortest time because the atmosphere promotes evaporation of the rolling lubricant, reducing the risk of the oil cracking on the foil surface.
The facility can be implemented to comply with the standards required by the automotive and aerospace industry. These standards are primarily AMS 2750E (SAE Aerospace) in the aircraft industry and CQI-9 (AIAG) for the automotive industry.