A vacuum oven is a very specialized type of laboratory and industrial equipment used for drying, curing, baking, or heat treating materials in reduced atmospheric pressure. The operating principle of a vacuum oven is based on decreasing the boiling point of fluids (like water or solvents) by minimizing the pressure surrounding them, and consequently, enabling materials to dry at temperatures well below those they would experience under standard atmospheric pressure. This ability is particularly important when dealing with materials that are heat-sensitive, volatile, oxidizable, or chemically reactive at elevated temperatures.

The vacuum oven consists of a hermetically closed chamber constructed of corrosion-resistant materials, most commonly stainless steel, that is capable of withstanding heat and vacuum pressure. The chamber is attached to a vacuum pump to evacuate the air and other gases to generate a low-pressure system within the oven. After the desired vacuum level has been reached, the oven provides gentle, uniform heat through inner heating elements, which is often supplemented by thermal conduction or radiation.

In short, a vacuum oven is a handy and useful machine for accurate, controlled drying and heating at low pressure. Its feature of low-temperature operation with high drying efficiency renders it particularly useful for scientific research, product development, and quality control processes. Vacuum ovens, when used with care and with routine maintenance, can greatly improve the efficiency, safety, and dependability of thermal processing applications across most industries.