Method for in-situ environment sensitive sealing and/or product

Abstract

A single furnace loading cycle method for sintering at least one product comprises placing at least one product into a ventable/sealable box, and placing the box within the furnace. The box is vented inside the furnace at a first temperature range and the product is sealed inside the box in a second temperature range, wherein the second temperature range is higher than the first temperature range. The box includes a closeable top cover and a control means that comprises a first set of collapsible spacers which hold open the cover at temperatures below the first temperature range and collapse to lower the cover into sealing engagement with the box at temperatures above the first temperature range. The box further comprises a substrate to be sintered with a lower and an upper setter on opposite sides of the substrate. The substrate rests on the lower setter, and a second set of collapsible spacers rest on the lower setter and have heights sufficient to lift the upper setter above the height of the substrate, and wherein the second set of spacers collapse to lower the upper setter to rest upon the substrate at temperatures above the first temperature range.