at first side 312 of retort chamber 302 may selectively provide access to the interior of retort chamber 302 through first side 312 such as by being opened and closed by an actuator 316 an atmospheric control system 318 may maintain an atmosphere within retort chamber 302 such as by maintaining an atmosphere of a gas that is substantially inert with respect to the article to be processed for example argon hydrogen nitrogen or another gas that is substantially non reactive with superalloys used in turbine blades may be used a first thermal chamber 320 attached to first side 312 of retort chamber 302 may include a first portion 322 of article transport arrangement 310 and may be arranged to be connected to retort portion 308 of article transport arrangement 310 to allow transport of an article from first thermal chamber 320 into retort chamber 302 and vice versa first thermal chamber 320 may include a first thermal system 324 arranged to place an interior of first thermal chamber 320 at a second predefined temperature in embodiments first thermal system 324 may be a heating system while in other embodiments first thermal system 324 may be a cooling system depending on the particular processes sought to be performed with modular heat treatment system 300 first thermal chamber 320 may further include a first chamber door 326 in a side 328 of.