Laura Lambert wrote:

John Wong wrote: Laura Lambert wrote:  Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 13:28 Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered. It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block. The target consists of 221 discs of UCx with 7.5cm in length. A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted left, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the right is open - discs are held on with Ta wire spring. The chamber is currently pumping down. TGHT will be ramped up to 520A at 0.1A/min Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.  Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 14:43 IG1 = 1.8e-5 Torr. Tapped up manually to 30A. Vacuum stable; IG1 = 1.2e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.  Thursday, July 02, 2015, 08:41 EVAP1 was tripped off due to backflow preventer test this morning. IG1 - 4.2e-6 Torr. Tapping back-up manually before re-initiating auto-ramp.  Thursday, July 02, 2015, 11:49 Tapped up manually to 85A, 0.65V IG1 = 3.6e-6 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.    Thursday, July 02, 2015, 12:58 NOTE:  Before venting the EVAP1 chamber, the Ar line must disconnect from Peter's sampling chamber (inside the fumehood) and connect back to the EVAP.     Friday, July 03, 2015, 13:42 water valve tripped off at ~1pm, which subsequently tripped off the TGHT [see photo] currently trying to figure out what caused this to occur before re-starting....  Friday, July 03, 2015, 14:47 All water valves look good, flow is good. WV turned back on, TGHT turned back on.  Tapped back up manually to 20A. IG1 = 2.3e-6 Torr Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max setpoint of 150A over the weekend. Will continue to ramp up monday.   Approved by Peter Kunz.  Monday, July 06, 2015, 09:29 TGHT reached 150A 1.5hrs ago. Vacuum stable. IG1 = 2.7e-5 Torr. Re-starting auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max setpoint of 520A.

 Wednesday, July 08, 2015, 10:44

The carbonization process is complete; chamber vacuum is stabilizing at 9.5e-6 Torr. 

Currently TGHT is at 430A.  Increased TGHT ramping rate to 1A/min.  Target should be at max current (520A) in 1.5 hours, so TGHT can be ramped down around 4:30pm today. 

 Wednesday, July 08, 2015, 16:36

TGHT at 520A/5.884V for over 4 hours.  Pressure coming down, currently at 1.42e-5 Torr. 

Initiated cooling at -2A/min. 

Chamber can be vented in Ar tomorrow and the target will be inspected.

Thursday, July 09, 2015, 17:08  

The target was taken out from the evaporator and inspected. 

Some "burnt" marks on the ionization legs can be observed and also the centre support leg is bent.  (see photos#1)

Not sure if the centre leg came in bent after machining or it happened during the carbonization process??  Do not have photos of the container before the process to compare.  

A few things to note…  During the process, the power supply did tripped off twice due to the cooling water valve shut off. (see photo#2).  An assumption is that sudden cool down of the hot target might have caused the quenching effect. 

No other visible damage.  

End caps are inserted and ready for assembly.

Link to photos:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c1ake0fu4x7lckc/AAD0F8TVRrpCbbHquEvSkyYIa?dl=0

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote:  Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 13:28 Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered. It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block. The target consists of 221 discs of UCx with 7.3cm in length. A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted left, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the right is open - discs are held on with Ta wire spring. The chamber is currently pumping down. TGHT will be ramped up to 520A at 0.1A/min Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.  Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 14:43 IG1 = 1.8e-5 Torr. Tapped up manually to 30A. Vacuum stable; IG1 = 1.2e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.  Thursday, July 02, 2015, 08:41 EVAP1 was tripped off due to backflow preventer test this morning. IG1 - 4.2e-6 Torr. Tapping back-up manually before re-initiating auto-ramp.  Thursday, July 02, 2015, 11:49 Tapped up manually to 85A, 0.65V IG1 = 3.6e-6 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.    Thursday, July 02, 2015, 12:58 NOTE:  Before venting the EVAP1 chamber, the Ar line must disconnect from Peter's sampling chamber (inside the fumehood) and connect back to the EVAP.

 Friday, July 03, 2015, 13:42

water valve tripped off at ~1pm, which subsequently tripped off the TGHT [see photo]

currently trying to figure out what caused this to occur before re-starting....

 Friday, July 03, 2015, 14:47

All water valves look good, flow is good.

WV turned back on, TGHT turned back on. 

Tapped back up manually to 20A.

IG1 = 2.3e-6 Torr

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max setpoint of 150A over the weekend.

Will continue to ramp up monday.

Approved by Peter Kunz.

 Monday, July 06, 2015, 09:29

TGHT reached 150A 1.5hrs ago.

Vacuum stable.

IG1 = 2.7e-5 Torr.

Re-starting auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max setpoint of 520A.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 13:28 Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered. It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block. The target consists of 221 discs of UCx with 7.3cm in length. A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted left, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the right is open - discs are held on with Ta wire spring. The chamber is currently pumping down. TGHT will be ramped up to 520A at 0.1A/min Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.  Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 14:43 IG1 = 1.8e-5 Torr. Tapped up manually to 30A. Vacuum stable; IG1 = 1.2e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.  Thursday, July 02, 2015, 08:41 EVAP1 was tripped off due to backflow preventer test this morning. IG1 - 4.2e-6 Torr. Tapping back-up manually before re-initiating auto-ramp.  Thursday, July 02, 2015, 11:49 Tapped up manually to 85A, 0.65V IG1 = 3.6e-6 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.

 Thursday, July 02, 2015, 12:58

NOTE:  Before venting the EVAP1 chamber, the Ar line must disconnect from Peter's sampling chamber (inside the fumehood) and connect back to the EVAP. 

 Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 13:28

Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered.

It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block.

The target consists of 221 discs of UCx with 7.3cm in length.

A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted left, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the right is open - discs are held on with Ta wire spring.

The chamber is currently pumping down.

TGHT will be ramped up to 520A at 0.1A/min

Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.

 Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 14:43

IG1 = 1.8e-5 Torr.

Tapped up manually to 30A.

Vacuum stable; IG1 = 1.2e-5 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Thursday, July 02, 2015, 08:41

EVAP1 was tripped off due to backflow preventer test this morning.

IG1 - 4.2e-6 Torr.

Tapping back-up manually before re-initiating auto-ramp.

 Thursday, July 02, 2015, 11:49

Tapped up manually to 85A, 0.65V

IG1 = 3.6e-6 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Friday, July 03, 2015, 14:47

All water valves look good, flow is good.

WV turned back on, TGHT turned back on. 

Tapped back up manually to 20A.

IG1 = 2.3e-6 Torr

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max setpoint of 150A over the weekend.

Will continue to ramp up monday.

Approved by Peter Kunz.

 Monday, May 11, 2015, 11:45

UO2/C green was prepared May 6, 2015. The slurry was cast on a piece of glass coated with WD40 on May 7, 2015.

The cast peeled off the glass nicely May 8, 2014 and finished drying over the weekend. [see attached picture]

Some materials were stuck on the WC jar wall and balls, consistent with every time.

Initial UO2 powder used = 50.44g (Inventory R-00835A, UO2 + bottle = 444.23g before use)

Graphite powder used = 10.05g

Green cast dried UO2/C + organic mass = 61.23g

The green was rolled up and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet.

The Ta-target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of heat shield and installed in Evap1.

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

Target boat will be ramped up to 520A at the rate of 0.1A/min

Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr.

 Tuesday, May 12, 2015, 08:40

IG1 = 3e-6 Torr

Tapping up manually to 35A...

Tuesday, May 12, 2015, 12:18

Waited ~2.5hrs.

Vacuum stable.

IG1 = 1.3e-5 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Monday, May 25, 2015, 09:29

TGHT reached max setpoints on the 22nd.

IGP1 = 2.2e-6 Torr.

TGHT = 520A, 5.28V

Carbonization process is complete [see attachment].

Initiating auto-cool at 2.0A/min.

 Wednesday, May 27, 2015, 08:47

Vented in argon and opened up yesterday afternoon.

Uranium flakes in glove box.

 Wednesday, May 27, 2015, 16:09

UC2 flakes produced = 47.647g

Friday, March 20, 2015, 15:17 

Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered.

It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block.

The target consists of 225 discs of UCx with 9.2cm in length.

Packing step was skipped for first time, loaded singular discs into target container, no binder holding discs together.

A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted left, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the right is open.

The chamber is currently pumping down.

TGHT will be ramped up to 520A - keep heating the current for 4-5 hours.

Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.

Auto ramp at 0.1A/min.

 Monday, March 23, 2015, 09:09

IOC has been rebooted.

Ion gauge won't turn on - goes into drive, then times out...

 Monday, March 23, 2015, 15:06

Both filaments in IG1 are burnt out.

EVAP1 will be vented tomorrow morning.

UCx will be placed in the pelican case under argon while the filaments are being replaced in the morning.

 Tuesday, March 24, 2015, 11:27

Vented in argon and placed target in pelican case.

Ion gauge replaced this morning.

Continued purging evap1 and re-installed UCx back into evap1.

Currently pumping back down.

 Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 09:38

IG1 = 8.65e-7 Torr

Tapped up evap1 manually to 40A.

Waited ~20min.

Vaccuum stable.

IGP1 = 7.75e-7 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Wednesday, April 01, 2015, 15:07

TGHT has reached 520A, 5.82V - YAY!

Will continue to heat overnight and initiate ramp-down/ cooling tomorrow morning.

Slightly shorter time frame to reach max setpoints than normal - possibly due to lack of binder/ skipping packing process.

Great timing before the long weekend 

 Thursday, April 02, 2015, 09:20

Target has been conditioned at max setpoints for 20hours.

Auto-cooling ramp down initiated at 2.0A/min.

 Thursday, April 09, 2015, 16:02

Vented in argon and removed from evap1 tuesday.

Appears as though some discs may be slightly displaced, pictures to follow...

 Monday, March 09, 2015, 16:55

After upgrading IOC for CXML program, experienced some issues; therefore, switched to same software as EVAP2.

Testing new software.

Chamber currently pumping down.

 Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 10:46

Chamber pumped down.

Initiated auto-ramp - not working, compilation errors...

 Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 11:47

Keiko fixed software update and rebooted IOC.

Everything seems to be working now.

 Monday, January 26, 2015, 11:19

UO2/C green was prepared Jan 20, 2015. The slurry was cast on a piece of glass coated with WD40 on Jan 21, 2015.

The cast was let dry over the weekend and peeled off the glass nicely Jan 26, 2014. [see attached picture]

Some materials were stuck on the WC jar wall and balls, consistent with every time.

Initial UO2 powder used = 50.32g (Inventory R-00835A, UO2 + bottle = 494.52g before use)

Graphite powder used = 10.02g

Green cast dried UO2/C + organic mass = 60.33g

The green was rolled up and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet.

The Ta-target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of heat shield and installed in Evap1.

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

Target boat will be ramped up to 520A at the rate of 0.1A/min

Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr.

 Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 11:33

change of plan.

there will be several interruptions over the course of the next month including a planned power outage and water shut off.

therefore UO2/C cannot be carbonized as these interruptions  will trip off the system when UO2/C would be at max temperature.

EVAP1 is now turned off and the flakes will be stored in the fume hood until further notice.

 Thursday, April 09, 2015, 16:03

EVAP1 has been cleaned.

Target boat has been reloaded into evap1 and currently pumping down.

Will initiate ramp up tomorrow.

 Friday, April 10, 2015, 08:05

IGP1 = 1.7e-6 Torr

Tapped up manually to 35A.

Waited ~2hrs, vacuum stable.

IGP1 = 9.7e-6 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Monday, April 20, 2015, 11:20

TGHT reahed 520A, 5.78V on the weekend.

The boat has been sitting at max setpoint for 4.5hours.

Carbonization process is complete [See attachment].

IGP1 = 3.4e-6 Torr.

Initiating auto-cool at 2A/min.

 Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 16:20

Vented in Ar and opened up today.

Now in glove box.

 Monday, May 11, 2015, 11:58

UC2 flakes produced = 46.477g

 Friday, January 23, 2015, 15:02

water supply turned back on to EVAP1 and fume hoods

 Thursday, December 11, 2014, 10:16

water valve shut off for lab closure over the holidays.

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote:  Friday, October 17, 2014, 11:47 Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered. It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block. The target consists of 255 discs of UCx with 10.5cm in length. A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted right, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the left is open with a removable half-cap to allow out-gassing. The chamber was pumped down overnight. TGHT will be ramped up to 520A - keep heating the current for 4-5 hours. Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac. Auto ramp at 0.1A/min.  Friday, October 17, 2014, 13:25 IG1 = 2.6e-6 Torr Manually stepped up to 35A Waited ~1hr15 IG1 = 4.2e-6 Torr Initiating auto-ramp.    Monday, October 20, 2014, 14:10 There were two big power bumps occurred on Saturday Oct 18 and wiped all the IOC/PLC on the Evaporators.   All the system, including TGHT/pumps/EPICS/Alarm handlers were found off.  The ion gauge was turned on this morning and showed the pressure was around 16mTorr. (see attachment). The pump has been turned back on; pressure is currently at 3.5e-6 Torr. Ramping up TGHT...  Monday, November 03, 2014, 12:05 TGHT has reached to 580A and the target has conditioned at that current for about 3 days.  Cooling down at 2A/min.  Wednesday, November 05, 2014, 16:40 UCx conditioning complete. Target is now in the Ar-glove box.  End caps are inserted but need to be expanded. Need to insert Re foil prior to assembly.

 Monday, November 10, 2014, 13:48

UCx was being assembled, but as one of the endcaps was being expanded, the target container broke [friday nov 7th].

attempting to recover the materials and re-load into a new container now...

 Monday, November 10, 2014, 15:52

new target materials weight total [incl graphite] = 23.368g

(33.994g of materials taken out of broken target)

Laura Lambert wrote:

Friday, October 17, 2014, 11:47 Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered. It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block. The target consists of 255 discs of UCx with 10.5cm in length. A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted right, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the left is open with a removable half-cap to allow out-gassing. The chamber was pumped down overnight. TGHT will be ramped up to 520A - keep heating the current for 4-5 hours. Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac. Auto ramp at 0.1A/min.  Friday, October 17, 2014, 13:25 IG1 = 2.6e-6 Torr Manually stepped up to 35A Waited ~1hr15 IG1 = 4.2e-6 Torr Initiating auto-ramp.

 Monday, October 20, 2014, 14:10

There were two big power bumps occurred on Saturday Oct 18 and wiped all the IOC/PLC on the Evaporators.   All the system, including TGHT/pumps/EPICS/Alarm handlers were found off.  The ion gauge was turned on this morning and showed the pressure was around 16mTorr. (see attachment).

The pump has been turned back on; pressure is currently at 3.5e-6 Torr.

Ramping up TGHT...

 Monday, November 03, 2014, 12:05

TGHT has reached to 580A and the target has conditioned at that current for about 3 days. 

Cooling down at 2A/min.

 Wednesday, November 05, 2014, 16:40

UCx conditioning complete.

Target is now in the Ar-glove box.  End caps are inserted but need to be expanded.

Need to insert Re foil prior to assembly.

 Friday, October 17, 2014, 11:47

Target container was previously coated with TaC spray and sintered.

It's is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the center block.

The target consists of 255 discs of UCx with 10.5cm in length.

A regular TaC coated endcap is inserted right, wrt the ionizer tube pointing down, so the left is open with a removable half-cap to allow out-gassing.

The chamber was pumped down overnight.

TGHT will be ramped up to 520A - keep heating the current for 4-5 hours.

Parameter setup: 5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0e-5 bad vac.

Auto ramp at 0.1A/min.

 Friday, October 17, 2014, 13:25

IG1 = 2.6e-6 Torr

Manually stepped up to 35A

Waited ~1hr15

IG1 = 4.2e-6 Torr

Initiating auto-ramp.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 14:54 UO2/C green was prepared Sept 18, 2014. The slurry was cast on a piece of glass coated with WD40 on Sept 19, 2014. The cast was let dry over the weekend and peeled off the glass nicely Sept 22, 2014. Some materials were stuck on the WC jar wall and balls as always noted. Initial UO2 powder used = 50.04g (Inventory R-00835A UO2 + bottle = 544.51g before use) Graphite powder used = 9.98g Green cast dried UO2/C + organic mass = 59.35g The green was rolled up and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet. The Ta-target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of heat shield and installed in Evap1. Chamber is currently being pumped down. Target will be ramped up to 520A at the rate of 0.1A/min Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr.  Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 11:27 Chamber pumped down overnight. IGP1 = 2.3e-6 Torr Manually stepping TGHT up to 30A  Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 14:00 Vacuum stable. IGP1 = 1.3e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp.

 Friday, October 10, 2014, 13:51

TGHT has reached to 520A for over 20hrs;  Carbonization process is complete (see attachment).

Ramping down at 2A/min. 

As much as I like to come to work, Monday is a holiday.  So, the chamber will be kept under vacuum. 

On Tuesday, the chamber will be vent in Ar. 

Friday, October 17, 2014, 11:47  

Vented and taken out on tuesday.

 Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 14:54

UO2/C green was prepared Sept 18, 2014. The slurry was cast on a piece of glass coated with WD40 on Sept 19, 2014.

The cast was let dry over the weekend and peeled off the glass nicely Sept 22, 2014.

Some materials were stuck on the WC jar wall and balls as always noted.

Initial UO2 powder used = 50.04g (Inventory R-00835A UO2 + bottle = 544.51g before use)

Graphite powder used = 9.98g

Green cast dried UO2/C + organic mass = 59.35g

The green was rolled up and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet.

The Ta-target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of heat shield and installed in Evap1.

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

Target will be ramped up to 520A at the rate of 0.1A/min

Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 11:27

Chamber pumped down overnight.

IGP1 = 2.3e-6 Torr

Manually stepping TGHT up to 30A

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 14:00

Vacuum stable.

IGP1 = 1.3e-5 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 11:54

UO2/C green was prepared Aug 20, 2014. The slurry was cast on a piece of glass coated with WD40 on Aug 21, 2014.

The cast peeled off the glass nicely Aug 22, 2014 and let dry until Aug 25, 2014.

Some materials were stuck on the WC jar wall and balls as always noted.

Initial UO2 powder used = 50.75g (Inventory R-00835A UO2 + bottle = 595.37g before use)

Graphite powder used = 10.78g

Green cast dried UO2/C + organic mass = 62.86g

The green was rolled up and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet.

The Ta-target boat is wrapped with 3-Ta layers of heat shield and installed in Evap1.

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

Target will be ramped up to 520A at the rate of 0.1A/min

Vacuum limit stop at 5.0e-5 Torr, backing off at 6.0e-5 Torr

 Wednesday, August 27, 2014, 11:18

Chamber has pumped down overnight. IG1 = 6.4e-6 Torr

Stepped TGHT up to 35A.

 Wednesday, August 27, 2014, 14:41

Waited 1.5hrs for vacuum to fully stabilize, currently sitting at 2.2e-5 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp.

 Friday, September 12, 2014, 14:09

TGHT reached max 520A/5.6V last night.

Carbonization process complete (see attachment: carbonization)

IG1 = 7.6e-6 Torr 

Initiating auto-cool at 2A/min

Will vent the chamber with Ar on Monday.

 Monday, September 22, 2014, 14:52

complete, UO2/C in glove box

 Thursday, October 09, 2014, 13:45

update rename: batch #11 - 08262014 to UC2Flk_03

 Thursday, August 14, 2014, 17:54

Target container consists of 240 discs of ThO2/Nb discs.  The container is not required to be wrapped with Ta-heat shields.  

One end cap is inserted on the left end (wrt to the ionizer pointing into the page).  

The chamber is currently being pumped down.  

TGHT will be heated up to 520A, ramping rate at 0.1A/min.

 Friday, August 15, 2014, 15:55

A sampling filter has been installed by RPG; this will be used to analyze any volatile particle releases out from the target. 

An alpha monitor is being install on the exhaust line; air sample will be collected for further analyzse.  

Vacuum has come down to 7.2 e-6 Torr.  

Target heat will be ramped up on Monday since it is coming late to the day.  

Chamber will continue to pump down.  

Next week, RPG will start taking the first air sample before the target is heated up.  More discussion on that later...

 Monday, August 18, 2014, 11:18

Chamber has been pumped down over the weekend. 

Pressure @ 2.67e-6 Torr. 

Note:  RPG decides not to take any gas sample since the filter installed in between the backing and turbo pumps is sufficient for the analysis.

TGHT stepped up to 30A.

 Monday, August 18, 2014, 14:17

TGHT stepped up further to 40A; Pressure stabalized >100min at 4e-6 Torr, bp @ 44mTorr.

Initiated auto-ramping.

 Thursday, August 21, 2014, 17:20

TGHT continues to ramp up and pressure is coming down - Currently @ 7.7-6 Torr.

Increased TGHT ramping rate to 0.5A/min. 

The sintering process will be complete by Friday (Aug 8, 21), and the chamber will be cooled down over the weekend.

By Monday, the chamber can be vented in air, and the target can be removed from the chamber.  Then RPG can remove the filter in the backing pump for the analysis.

 Friday, August 22, 2014, 08:57

TGHT has reached to 520A for just over 10 hrs.  Vac at 8.6e-6 Torr, BP @ 40mTorr.

Cooling initiated at 2A/min

 Friday, August 22, 2014, 16:52

Target was cooled to room temp and was removed from the chamber.

5 discs were removed from the target because it was shrunk up; the rest of the discs were fine.  

2 extra Nb foils and end cap were inserted. 

Target is stored in the Hotlab - awaiting to be assembled.

John Wong wrote:

Friday, July 04, 2014, 10:13 Target boat contains 4 set of samples.  Each sample consists of 5pack ThO2/Nb.  (see photos). The container is wrapped with 3 layers of heat shield.  TGHT will be ramped up to 520A at 0.1A/min. Chamber has been pumped over night, pressure at 4.20e-6 Torr. The purpose of this test: 1.  Will the Ta- target boat survive at that current? 2.  How will ThO2 sintered?  Shrinkage? Grain-growth? mass loss? density? SEM will be done later. 3.  How will the pressure behave at the max operating temperature (or current)?   Friday, July 04, 2014, 12:29 Stepped up TGHT to 40A,  Vac went to max at 3.5e-5 Torr and is coming down. Auto-ramping initiated.

Wednesday, July 09, 2014, 13:55

TGHT reached 520A tuesday morning. [see attached archive screenshot]

Initiated auto-cool at 1.0A/min tuesday afternoon.

Vented in air and took samples out of EVAP1 wednesday morning. [see attached sample photo]

Friday, July 04, 2014, 10:13

Target boat contains 4 set of samples.  Each sample consists of 5pack ThO2/Nb.  (see photos).

The container is wrapped with 3 layers of heat shield. 

TGHT will be ramped up to 520A at 0.1A/min.

Chamber has been pumped over night, pressure at 4.20e-6 Torr.

The purpose of this test:

1.  Will the Ta- target boat survive at that current?

2.  How will ThO2 sintered?  Shrinkage? Grain-growth? mass loss? density? SEM will be done later.

3.  How will the pressure behave at the max operating temperature (or current)?

  Friday, July 04, 2014, 12:29

Stepped up TGHT to 40A,  Vac went to max at 3.5e-5 Torr and is coming down.

Auto-ramping initiated. 

 Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 10:20

Sample was successfully sinterred to 520A. 

SEM on raw, treated powder, and sintered samples were perform.  Pressure vs current plot can also be found. (see attachments)

More information can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fj78m7tyy7mj99p/AABfm-fQMeoaWhf6HjT8Vzn1a