BAKEABLE VACUUM SEALS USING ALUMINIUM-WIRE GASKETS
The use of aluminum wire as a vacuum seal between steel flanges was studied. Gaskets made by twisting together the ends of a 22 s.w.g. wire could be baked to 200 deg C before they leaked on cooling. High-temperature working was possible with butt-welded loops of aluminum wire providing the gasket was highiy compressed. Such seals did not cold weld but, at baking temperatures above 400 deg C, the aluminum plastically flowed and adhered to the mating flanges. The "comented" joint was vacuum tight at low and high temperatures (20-550 deg C) although the securing bolts became loose after baking. Such a seal leaked only when the aluminum reached its melting point. Information is given on the minimum compression force which must be applied to an aluminum wire in order to form a cemented joint at elevated temperature. Several uses of the aluminum-wire seal are described. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Edwards High Vacuum, Ltd., Crawley, Sussex, Eng.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-015516
- OSTI ID:
- 4244647
- Journal Information:
- J. Sci. Instr., Journal Name: J. Sci. Instr. Vol. Vol: 36
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A COLD HIGH-VACUUM SEAL WITHOUT GASKETS
A simple aluminum gasket for use with both stainless steel and aluminum flanges