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Induction Furnaces for Metal Melting and High-Purity Heating

Induction furnaces are electrically powered metal melting and heating systems that use electromagnetic induction to generate eddy currents directly within conductive metal, providing clean, precisely controlled, and electromagnetically stirred heating without combustion fuels, open flames, or direct contact with the heat source for research, foundry, precious metal refining, and semiconductor processing.

MBP supplies laboratory induction furnaces for small-scale melting and materials research applications, with US order processing in Houston, Texas, and specialist support for specification and procurement. Request a quote by contacting customerservice@mbpinc.net.

Induction Furnaces

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IHL25K

25KW Low-Frequency Induction Melting Furnace 1-20KHz

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USD13,286.70

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USD9,490.50

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What Are Induction Furnaces?

An induction furnace generates heat within a conductive metal charge through electromagnetic induction: alternating current flowing through a water-cooled copper coil creates a rapidly oscillating magnetic field that induces circulating eddy currents (Foucault currents) inside the metal. The electrical resistance of the metal converts these currents to Joule (I2R) heat, raising the metal temperature to its melting point without external combustion or contact with a radiant heat source. The same Lorentz force (J x B) that induces eddy currents also creates electromagnetic stirring (EMS) in the molten bath, a bulk fluid motion that homogenizes alloy additions, dissolves inclusions, and floats slag to the surface without mechanical stirring. Induction furnaces can melt virtually all conductive metals: steel, iron, copper, aluminum, gold, silver, platinum-group metals, and many alloys. Choose induction furnaces when combustion-free, precisely controlled, and self-stirring metal melting is required, particularly for precious metals, high-purity alloys, and laboratory research applications.

What You Will Find:

Low-Frequency Induction Heaters provide deep heat penetration for hardening and melting both ferromagnetic and nonferrous metals.
Tilt-Pour Melting Furnaces feature specialized melters that make handling and pouring molten metal batches safer and much easier.
Auto-Feeding Rod Furnaces streamline forging workflows by automating the heating of steel rods for consistent production speeds.
Integrated Safety Systems protect your gear with automatic shutdowns for overvoltage, overheating, and low water pressure.
Digital Control Displays show real-time frequency and current data so you can monitor your thermal cycles at a glance.

How to Choose an Induction Furnace

Operating frequency

Induction furnace operating frequency determines the depth of electromagnetic penetration (skin depth) into the metal charge. High-frequency systems (50-500 kHz, used in IGBT-based laboratory units) have shallow skin depth, ideal for small charges and rapid heating of laboratory quantities (1 g-5 kg). Medium-frequency systems (1-10 kHz) penetrate deeper and are suited for larger heats (100 kg-100 tonnes) in industrial foundries. For laboratory melting of precious metals and small research heats, high-frequency IGBT power supplies are the standard choice.

Crucible material

The crucible holds the molten metal and must withstand both the operating temperature and the electromagnetic environment. Graphite crucibles are standard for most metals, including steel, iron, copper, and aluminum, but are not suitable for oxidizing atmospheres. Alumina (Al2O3) crucibles are used for non-ferrous metals and precious metals requiring higher purity. Silicon carbide-graphite (SiC-graphite) composite crucibles offer improved thermal shock resistance. Silicon carbide crucibles are preferred for aluminum alloys. Crucible selection must match the alloy composition and the maximum melt temperature.

Capacity and power

Laboratory induction furnaces for research and precious metal work are available with melting capacities from 1 kg to approximately 100 kg metal equivalent. Portable mini induction furnaces (IGBT high-frequency, 1-10 kHz, 1-3 kW power supply) melt 1-5 kg of gold, silver, or copper for jewellery, dental, or small research applications. Larger bench-top units (5-50 kW) melt 5-100 kg of steel or copper. Match the power supply wattage to the melting capacity: insufficient power extends heat time and reduces energy efficiency; excessive power can cause over-temperature and crucible damage.

Atmosphere control

Standard coreless induction furnaces operate in ambient air, which limits their use to metals not sensitive to oxidation at melt temperature. Vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnaces enclose the induction coil and crucible in a vacuum chamber (below 10-3 Pa), enabling the melting of reactive metals (titanium, nickel superalloys, rare earth alloys) and semiconductor-grade silicon without oxidation or nitrogen pick-up. Controlled atmosphere induction furnaces use an inert gas (argon, nitrogen) purge rather than a full vacuum, suitable for less reactive materials.

Energy efficiency

Induction furnaces save 20-30% energy compared to conventional resistive or combustion furnaces for equivalent metal melting tasks, because heat is generated inside the metal rather than conducted through a refractory layer.

Specifications Context

Induction furnaces with IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) solid-state power supplies provide digital frequency control, precise power modulation, and energy efficiency above 90% at rated load, significantly improving on older SCR (silicon controlled rectifier) based systems. Electromagnetic stirring intensity increases with power level and frequency; excessive stirring at high power can splash molten metal out of shallow crucibles, requiring appropriate crucible geometry and fill level management. Skin depth in steel at 1,000 Hz is approximately 11 mm, concentrating heating near the surface; at 100 kHz, skin depth is approximately 1.1 mm, meaning high-frequency heating is efficient only for thin or small charges.

Ready to upgrade your heating capacity? Explore our induction furnace range and reach out to the MBP team for a friendly quote today.

FAQ

An induction furnace works by passing alternating current through a water-cooled copper coil surrounding a crucible containing the metal charge. The oscillating current creates a rapidly changing magnetic field that induces circulating eddy currents inside the conductive metal. The electrical resistance of the metal converts these eddy currents to Joule heat (I2R heating), raising the metal temperature to its melting point. The same electromagnetic forces also create a stirring action (electromagnetic stirring, EMS) that homogenizes the melt without mechanical agitation.

Induction furnaces can melt all electrically conductive metals and alloys, including steel, cast iron, copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, gold, silver, platinum-group metals, titanium, nickel superalloys, and silicon. Non-conductive materials (ceramics, glass, most oxides) cannot be induction-heated directly but can be melted in a conductive susceptor. For reactive metals such as titanium and nickel superalloys, vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnaces under vacuum below 10-3 Pa are required to prevent oxidation and nitrogen contamination.

Induction furnaces generate heat electromagnetically inside the metal charge itself, requiring no contact between the heat source and the sample, and produce a self-stirring melt ideal for metal melting, alloying, and refining. They operate only on electrically conductive materials. Muffle furnaces heat all materials (metals, ceramics, organic samples) by radiation and convection from surrounding heated chamber walls in ambient air, making them more versatile for non-conductive samples but unsuitable for controlled atmosphere melting. Induction furnaces are faster and more energy-efficient than muffle furnaces for equivalent metal melting tasks.

Electromagnetic stirring (EMS) is a bulk fluid motion generated automatically in the molten metal bath of an induction furnace by the Lorentz force (J x B), which arises from the interaction of the induced eddy current density (J) with the applied magnetic field (B). EMS homogenizes alloy additions and dissolved elements throughout the melt without mechanical stirring, floats lighter impurities and slag to the surface, maintains uniform temperature across the bath, and accelerates melting of solid additions. EMS intensity increases with induction power level and can be reduced by lowering power output.

High-frequency induction furnaces (50-500 kHz, IGBT-based) generate shallow electromagnetic penetration (skin depth below 2 mm in most metals), making them ideal for melting small laboratory charges of 1 g to 5 kg, including precious metals, research alloys, and semiconductor materials where rapid heating and precise control of small heats are needed. Medium-frequency systems (1-10 kHz) penetrate more deeply and are suited for larger foundry heats of 50 kg and above. For laboratory and precious metal research applications, high-frequency IGBT furnaces with 1-10 kW power supplies are the standard format.

Vacuum induction melting (VIM) encloses the induction coil, crucible, and melt in a sealed chamber evacuated to below 10-3 Pa (high vacuum) before and during melting. This prevents oxidation, nitrogen pickup, and hydrogen dissolution in the melt -- defects that are otherwise unavoidable for reactive metals such as titanium, zirconium, nickel superalloys (Inconel, Hastelloy), cobalt alloys, and semiconductor-grade silicon when melted in ambient air. VIM produces higher-purity alloys with controlled composition, lower gas content, and reduced inclusion density compared to air-melting.

Induction furnaces save approximately 20-30% energy compared to resistive or combustion furnaces for equivalent metal melting applications because heat is generated inside the metal directly rather than conducted through refractory walls. Modern IGBT-based solid-state induction power supplies achieve electrical efficiency above 90% at rated load. The energy advantage increases for smaller heats relative to furnace capacity. The global induction melting furnace market was estimated at approximately USD 3.8 billion in 2025, with growth driven by foundry, automotive, and electronics industries adopting induction over gas-fired systems for efficiency and emissions reasons.

MBP supplies induction furnaces for laboratory and research applications including precious metal melting, small-batch alloy development, and materials research. MBP is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center and accepts institutional purchase orders. Contact MBP for current induction furnace models, capacity specifications, and pricing. Submit inquiries through the Quick Order portal at mbpinc.net or directly at customerservice@mbpinc.net.

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