Furnace system and method of use

A sintering furnace comprising:

• an outer shell defining an internal volume, the outer shell comprising:
• an oxidizing agent inlet configured to introduce an oxidizing agent into the internal volume;
• andan exhaust mechanism configured to release a reaction byproduct from within the internal volume into an external environment;
• an insulation chamber arranged within the outer shell, wherein the insulation chamber comprises a heating element configured to raise a temperature inside the insulation chamber to at least a sintering temperature;
• and a retort, arranged within the insulation chamber, defining a retort volume, the retort comprising:
• an interfacing wall that separates the retort volume into a working volume and a gas introduction volume, wherein the working volume is configured to receive a material for sintering, wherein the interfacing wall defines a hole configured to allow fluid communication between the working volume and the gas introduction volume;
• and a gas inlet configured to provide a flow of inert gas into the gas introduction volume, wherein the gas introduction volume defines a tortuous path comprising a boustrophedonic cross-section, wherein the tortuous path is configured to increase a temperature of the inert gas prior to the inert gas entering the working volume wherein the oxidizing agent is introduced into the internal volume when a temperature of the insulation chamber is between 9000 C and 14000 C, wherein the inert gas is introduced in the retort volume contemporaneously with the introduction of the oxidizing agent into the internal volume.