A Vacuum Oven: What Is It and Who Uses It?

Vacuum ovens are complex but versatile equipment used in the engineering, medical, and food industries for many purposes to carry out delicate drying processes. They’re also known as vacuum drying ovens, low-pressure ovens, or low-temperature ovens. Sounds technical, right? Well, this article will help you understand what a vacuum oven is and who uses it.  
What Is a Vacuum Oven? 
Unlike the standard oven, vacuum ovens use a vacuum pump (or sometimes an air compressor) to create a partial vacuum inside the chamber. This partial vacuum allows heat transfer by convection rather than conduction or radiation. As a result, the user can dry materials at lower temperatures without damaging them. Also, the low-pressure environment in vacuum ovens minimizes oxidation rates, leading to decreased longevity of products. Having a brief history of vacuum technology will help you understand why they’re pivotal devices in many fields. 
Who Uses Vacuum Ovens?
Vacuum ovens have a variety of applications. Here are just a few of the many industries that use vacuum ovens.
Medics in Laboratories 
Medical devices need heat treatment to sterilize their parts before use. Vacuum ovens are used to sterilize all kinds of medical instruments, including scalpels, needles, catheters, etc. Regardless of the regular cleaning process, medical equipment needs special care because germs could contaminate it. Vacuum ovens purge any trapped germs or chemicals and evaporate any traces of water or humidity that may have accumulated during storage.  
Aerospace Manufacturers or Experts 
Aerospace experts use vacuum ovens to test the performance and functionality of particular items sent into space where there’s high pressure. These crucial pieces of equipment are also widely used in the aerospace industry to cure composite materials like carbon fiber and Kevlar fabrics. The low-pressure environment helps prevent damage to these fibers while curing them. Additionally, the low-pressure environment prevents the formation of bubbles in the composite material, which would weaken the structure or cause off-gassing. 
Food Processors 
The food processing industry uses vacuum ovens for various reasons. First, they allow foods to dry quickly without making them brittle. Second, foods can retain moisture so that they don’t become soggy after cooking. Third, foods cook evenly in vacuum ovens. Finally, foods keep their color and flavor better in vacuum ovens than traditional ovens. 
Electricians 
Electrical engineers use vacuum ovens to protect circuit boards from overheating and short circuits. They also use vacuum ovens to remove excess solder from printed circuit boards. 
Conclusion 
Vacuum ovens aren’t just for medics and food processors anymore! You can find them everywhere, even in your home kitchen. As long as you understand what a vacuum oven is and who uses it, they’re safe to use.