Friday, September 24, 2021, 15:38

Full target loaded with ~500 non-active foils plus 4 active foils.  

Initial pressure when heating: 6.6E-5 T 

Manually went to:

TGHT=125 A 

TBHT=50 A

with increments of 5 A each. Pressure has little spikes but mostly unchanged (going down, actually).

Friday, September 24, 2021, 15:42

Manually went to

TGHT=180 A 

TBHT=80 A

Pressure going up steadily, max pressure <2E-4

Friday, September 24, 2021, 16:48

From TGHT=180 A, TBHT=80 A we are aiming at going to TGHT=580 A and TBHT=230 A in increments of 50 A each and leave it there for a total of 5 minutes after nominal parameters are reached. Initial pressure 1.3E-5 T.

Friday, September 24, 2021, 17:01

Fast rampup done, we were up there in 30 seconds.

TGHT VOL = 6.6 V

TBHT VOL = 3 V

Max pressure 2E-3 T. Both TGHT and TBHT were shut off abruptly on purpose. 

 Friday, November 05, 2021, 13:23

Full target loaded with ~500 non-active foils plus 4 active foils.  

Initial pressure when heating: 1.6E-5 T 

Manually went to:

TGHT=125 A 

TBHT=50 A

with increments of 5 A each. Pressure has little spikes but mostly unchanged (going down, actually).

Stayed at those values for 2 min 

Friday, November 05, 2021, 13:37 

Manually went to

TGHT=180 A 

TBHT=80 A

maximum pressure 6.6e-5 Torr

Friday, November 05, 2021, 13:43

IGP1 =  2.45e-5 Torr

We are aiming at going to TGHT=580 A and TBHT=230 A in increments of 50 A each and leave it there for a total of 5 minutes after nominal parameters are reached 

Friday, November 05, 2021, 13:55

IGP1 =  1.7e-5 Torr

Heating done, we stayed at 530A for a bit long (~15 sec) during the heating so the total heat time at 580A was interrupted at 4 mins 50 seconds instead of 5 mins. All good, max pressure during the heating was 0.013 T.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 10:38

A first, short "FullTa1" target was loaded into the evap1. It consists of a short container (10 cm) with lateral thickness of ~0.2mm. The ends of the target connect with the TGHT terminals through two copper adapters.

After pumpdown down to ~4E-5 T, the TGHT was ramped gradually to 200 A in the next ~5 mins, leaving the target at 200 A for about 10 mins. Then, the current was increased fastly to 450 A in about 30 seconds, and was left at 450 A for a minute. 

Note: the one minute at 450 A started when the TGHT voltage drop across stabilized, considered a sign of temperature homogeneity across the target container

Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 14:34

The second short container "FullTa2" target has been loaded and heated, following the same procedure as above. In this case, the initial pumpdown went to a lower pressure (1.5E-5 T instead of ~4E-5 T) resulting in lower pressure throughout the whole procedure

Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 10:50

P2NC-220323

Preparing the P2N-UCx for online operation on June 2022

Two cartridges were filled with annular UO2/C foils last week.

48 cartridges total

Today, Darwin and I are placing one of the two cartridges in the EVAP1. The cartridge is P2NC-220323.

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 09:34

Carbothermal reduction heating process started with a ramp rate of 3 A/min

Pressure 1.8E-6T

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 10:31

Paused autoramp because pressure increasing too rapidly. Will continue ramp up once pressure stabilizes.

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 11:20

autoramp restarted @3A/min

IGP1=2.7E-4 Torr

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 13:24

After first major outgass finished and pressure trending down, increased autoramp to 5A/min to 600A

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 13:27

IGP1 = 3.3E-4A

TGHT = 600A, 2.5V

decrease ramp rate to 3A/min to 650A

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 13:45

Set autoramp to 670A

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 13:52

paused autoramp at 668A because pressure increase too steep. 

Changed ramp rate to 0.5A/min and restarted ramp up to 700A

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 15:20

Continued increase in current towards 700A while pressure decrease indicated completeness of reduction.

Started rampdown to 650A.

Pressure was 1.7E-4 Torr on IGP1

Friday, April 15, 2022, 06:28  

The current was reduced to 500A @ 3:50 PM yestesterday.

Currently, TGHT = 500A, 2.0V

started aurtoramp down @ -2A/min

IGP1= 2.4E-6 Torr

Monday, May 02, 2022, 12:32

Cartridge reloaded onto EVAP 1. Will heat back up to check carbothermal reduction. 

Tuesday, May 03, 2022, 08:40

IGP1= 1.32e-6 Torr

Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 500A

Autoramped up to 750A @ 1A/10s.  Only slight pressure increases observed areound 150A and 650A to 700 A.  Parameter curves will be evaluated.

Tuesday, May 03, 2022, 11:11

Started rampdown at -1A/10s. 

IGP1 was 3.0e-5 Torr and trending down when rampdown started

 Wednesday, May 04, 2022, 09:42

Yesterday, a second graphite cartridge was installed in EVAP1, it consists of the old, 3-body cartridge design, and was sanded on the outside to be able to fit a P2N container. 

First I tried ramping manually, but the heating tripped because pressure was too high.

Then the parameters were set as previously, but it tripped again

IGP1= 2e-5 Torr

Good vacuum 8e-2 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 500A

Autoramped up to 700A @ 1A/10s. 

Wednesday, May 04, 2022, 11:40

Another ramping trial, with different heating rate:

IGP1= 3e-5 Torr

Good vacuum 8e-2 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/20s to 700A

Autoramped up to 700A @ 1A/20s.  

Wednesday, May 04, 2022, 15:50

IGP1= 3e-2 Torr

Good vacuum 8e-2 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/20s to 730A

Autoramped up to 720A @ 1A/20s.  

Pressure dropping while current is increasing at autoramp rate.

Wednesday, May 04, 2022, 16:10

From 730A, once the pressure went down to ~1E-3T, the current was suddenly raised to 750A and 770A to see if significant pressure increase was noticed, but small bumps reaching 1.5E-3T were not considered a sign of further reduction.

The rampdown started from a pressure ~1E-3T, from 770A to zero with rate 2A/10s 

Friday, October 07, 2022, 07:55

Cartridge-220928UCx was installed in the EVAP1 and pumped down yesterday.

Material will be reduced in LP-SIS wrapped with 3 Ta foils.

IGP1 = 2.1e-6 Torr

a cap was installed to collect material coming out from the ionizer tube

The initial weight of the cap 1 + small bag was recorded to be: 2.82 g   Final weight of cap1 + small bag = 2.84g (see attached picture)

Good vacuum = 5e-4 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5e-2 Torr

Power desired 1900W as approximate power used online. 

Will autoramp @2A/min to 30A, then slow down ramp to 1A/min to 120A.

After first pressure bump cleared, will ramp up to 400 A @ 2A/20s to 425A on TGHT.  TBHT will be topped off at 230A. 

from 425A, TGHT will be ramped at 1A/min and monitored for pressure behaeviour. 

sytem will be left at reduction current for 4 hours.  Then, the current will be dropped to 1900W and allow to run for 8 hours.

The cup will be collected and the system will be run again in increments of two hours. 

*slight change from test plan to save time*

Friday, October 07, 2022, 21:55

A true pressure max was not observed.  A max while current still rising.  stopped at 560A on TGHT and 5.3V

will leave at the above conditions for 4 hours.

Suspect that the thinner Ta shields make a difference.  Suggest to add a fourth shield and process the previous cartridge in a tube rather than a boat.  Treat for four hours (pressure max) and then test increasing the current to see if there is a pressure bump.  If no pressure bump then lower current to deposit 1900W for 8 additional hours. 

After 4 hours at max current, the current was dropped to 450A (TGHT) and left for 8 hours.

Saturday, October 08, 2022, 09:26

start autoramp down @-2A/min for TGHT and -1A/min for TBHT

Cap+ bag = 2.82 g

final cap +bag = 2.84 g

Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 10:15

Today will switch end-cup.  Will weigh new end-cup and place inside the evap1 glovebox.  Then will remove used end-cap and install new end-cap.  Used end-cup will be weighed on same balance as before.  All mass measurements will be done with the same balance. Note, that a makeshift balance air isolation container was built to allow balance to not be affected by air currents.

 Cap 2+bag initial weight = 2.80 g +/- 0.01 g

Cap 2+bag final weight = 2.81g +/- 0.01 g

No visible deposition on cap

Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 07:51

Start ramp up at 2A/min.  TGHT to 450A, TBHT to 230A

IGP1= 6.7e-07Torr

Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 09:47

Ramping up @ 4A/min to same final settings: TGHT = 450A and TBHT = 230A

Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 11:15

@10:45am 450A, 4.15V were reached on TGHT

Will leave for 2 hours at 450A then ramp down, then switch cap. 

Monday, October 17, 2022, 09:40

The second cap was taken out over the weekend  (attachment number 2).

The final weight of this cap with bag = 2.81 +/- 0.01 g

Installed a nex cap (3) with initial weigh of cap +bag = 2.74 g

Allowed vacuum to settle over Sunday and will start ramping today

Will ramp to 470 A and hold for 2 hours.  Ramp rate  2A /30s

IGP1= 4.6e-07 Torr

 Monday, October 17, 2022, 11:39

ramping with no issues.  will finish ramp around 12:03 pm and will start rampdown @ around 2:05 pm.

Monday, October 17, 2022, 12:03

TGHT= 470A, 4.5V

TBHT= 228A, 2.9V

IGP1= 5.6e-06 Torr

Monday, October 17, 2022, 14:05

Start rampdown at 2A/min TGHT and 1A/min TBHT to zero amp

current IGP1= 2.6e-06 Torr

TGHT = 470A, 4.5V

TBHT= 228.3A, 2.9V

Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 09:39

IGP1=4.4e-7 Torr

ready to dismount

Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 13:50

Cap 3 + bag initial weight = 2.74 g

Final weight of cap+bag = 2.74 g (no change)

no visible deposition on cap either

Monday, November 28, 2022, 05:58

Left weekend to pump down

current IGPI= 7.23e-7 Torr

Material will be reduced in LP-SIS wrapped with 3 Ta foils.

a cap was installed to collect material coming out from the ionizer tube

Initial weight of target material plus cartridge was recorded

All relevant data and findings will be reported and added to docushare as document :

Good vacuum = 5e-4 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5e-2 Torr

Power desired 1900W as approximate power used online. 

Will autoramp @2A/min to 30A, then slow down ramp to 1A/min to 120A.

After first pressure bump cleared, will ramp up to 400 A @ 2A/20s to 425A on TGHT.  TBHT will be topped off at 230A. 

from 425A, TGHT will be ramped at 1A/min and monitored for pressure behaeviour. 

sytem will be left at reduction current for 4 hours.  Then, the current will be dropped to 425 A and allow to run for 8 hours.

The cup will be collected and the system will be run again for two hours. at the same current until no material visible on cap.  Then it will be run at 450A for increments of two hours until no significant mass change of target material.

Monday, November 28, 2022, 06:05

started initial heating to 30A at 2A/min on both TGHT and TBHT.

Monday, November 28, 2022, 08:46

was ramping at 6A/min (2A/20s) on both tGHT and TBHT but aborted due to pressure spike.  will allow pressure to stabilize.

TGHT = 162A, 1.35V

TBH 162A, 1.9V

Monday, November 28, 2022, 08:51

Restarting the heating at 6A/min (2A/20s)

Monday, November 28, 2022, 09:21

Pausing heating @ TGHT= 323 A 3.0V

Allow pressure to stabilize to better spot reduction current

Monday, November 28, 2022, 09:49

Started heating TGHT at 2A/min so reduction current can be better resolved

Monday, November 28, 2022, 10:12

heating aborted to allow pressure to stabilize

IGP1> 5.0e-4 Torr

Monday, November 28, 2022, 11:31

IGP1= 1.5e-4 Torr start autoramp TGHT @1A/min

Monday, November 28, 2022, 11:51

paused heating.  Second peak has been passed.  Will let pressure drop before starting heating again to try and better observe reduction peak.

Monday, November 28, 2022, 12:46

start autoramp at 2A/min from 389A on TGHT

IGP1- 6.4e-6 Torr

Monday, November 28, 2022, 14:21

Pressure starts to drop at around 535A, but large bump observed around 386A. 

Will leave four hours. 

TGHT= 539A, 4.98V

TBHT= 229A, 2.9V

Monday, November 28, 2022, 18:19

Ramping down at 4A/min to 425A

Currently IGP1= 6.2e-6 Torr

TGHT = 539A, 4.98 V

TBHT= 230A, 2.98V

Monday, November 28, 2022, 22:23

425 A on TGHT reached at 6:50 pm.  Will ramp down at 2:50 am .  -2A/min TGHT and -1A/min TBHT

Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 09:34

Final IGP1 when TGHT and TBHT = 0A  is 5.0e-7 Torr

Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 14:08

Weighed materials and reloaded

Currently at 1.1 e-05 Torr

Will initiate heat ramp at 2A/min to 425 A

@241A increase ramp rate to 4A/min on TGHT

Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 12:44

heating B finished and cartridge loading for heating C

Current pressure = 2.09 E-05 Torr.  Will ramp up to 450A at 4A/min and regulate as needed.

Will heat at 450A TGHT for 2 hours, TBHT max= 230A

Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 16:30

Starting rampdown @-2A/min TGHT and -1A/min TBHT

Final heating was @ 450A, 4.0V TGHT and 230A, 2.7V TBHT

Friday, December 02, 2022, 09:00

IGP1= 7.2 e-07 Torr

Starting ramp at 2A/min to 450A on TGHT and 230A on TBHT

Friday, December 02, 2022, 10:02

pressure stated dropping.  Will increase ramp to 4A/min (2A/30s)

Friday, December 02, 2022, 15:35

Starting ramp down at -2A/min TGHT and -1A/min TBHT

IGP1= 2.6 e-06 Torr

TGHT 450A   4.2V

TBHT  230A  2.9V

Monday, December 19, 2022, 10:38

Cartridge with 175 discs (including 5 analysis discs) loaded into a graphite cartridge. 

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields

Will keep at reducing current for 4 hours and then 10 hours @ 425A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure was 6.36 e-07 Torr

Autoramped to 56A @ 1A/30s

Outgassing bump observed starting at 50A and at 56A the maximum pressure was ~1.9e-05 Torr

Monday, December 19, 2022, 10:47

started autoramping at 1A/30s to 90A

Monday, December 19, 2022, 10:50

observed that pressure not increasing radically, therefore ramping up faster.  2A/30s

Monday, December 19, 2022, 10:58

Second pressure bump observed at 90A, 1.0V

leaving at this current until pressure drops

Monday, December 19, 2022, 17:15

ramped to 280A and left at 280 until pressure started dropping

ramping again to 500A @ 2A/30s

Monday, December 19, 2022, 17:26

Stopped at 330A due to pressure hike.  Will allow pressure to drop then continue ramp.

Monday, December 19, 2022, 18:00

restarting ramp @ 2A/30s

Monday, December 19, 2022, 18:11

Pressure started dropping around 350A corresponding to additive gas-off.  Will rampt to 500A @ 2A/30 seconds and then at 1A/30s to 530A

Final current was 548A, 6.7 V.  Will test increasing current after 4 hours (11 pm)

Monday, December 19, 2022, 23:10

ramping down @ 2A/min to 425A .  should be done by 12:00 am and cooling at9:00 am (includes 1 hour ramp down to 425).

Ramping down to zero @ -2A/min

Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 10:47

Final IGP1= 3.7e-07 Torr

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 09:57

Cartridge #8 loaded with 198 discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 10 hours @ 425A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 1.41e-06 Torr

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 10:02 Auto ramping to 120A @ 1A/min

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 18:58

Autoramping to  300A @ 4/min (2A/30s)

IGP1=3.34e-06 Torr

Friday, January 20, 2023, 07:37

left at 300 A for 8 hours and pressure dropped.  Restarted autoramp at 2A/30s and pressure was increasing until 425A where it peaked.  Reduced autoramp to 1A/min and observed slow but definite pressure drop.  Will go to 450A and leave there for 4 hours. 

Currently 440A, 5.3V on TGHT and 1.28e-05 Torr on IGP1

Friday, January 20, 2023, 12:06

After 4 hours at 450A IGP1= 3.49e-06 Torr

TGHT = 450A 5.4V

Will drop to 425A and leave for 10 hours

Friday, January 20, 2023, 21:53

TGHT 425A, 5.2V

IGP1= 1.81e-06 Torr

autoramping to 0 A @ -2A/min

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 22:29

Cartridge #9 loaded with 213 plus 3 analysi discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 3.71e-06 Torr

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 22:33

Autoramping to 400A @ 1A/min

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 06:57

Starting heating at 2A/min

Currently at 400A and 4.5V

IGP1= 9.6e-06 Torr

At around 500A, the reduction was observed.  Current manually increased to 508 A and left there for remainder of four hours.  4 hours will be done at 1210 pm, then will ramp down to 450 and 8 hours

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 12:01

IGP1= 7.6 e-06 Torr

508 A, 6.0 V TGHT

Start rampdown to 450 @ -2A/min

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 20:27

IGP1= 2.36e-06 Torr

TGHT = 452A, 5.3A

Starting ramp down @-2A/min

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 9:36

Cartridge #10 loaded with 213 plus 3 analysi discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 2.4 e-06 Torr

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 10:56

Starting heat ramp at 2A/min to 60A

First pressure bump observed at 60A

Allowing pressure to restabilize

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 13:12

IGP1=2.6 e-5 Torr

continuing to heat at 2A/min

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 13:35

another pressure bump observed around 90A (should go slowly in these current range).  Aborted ramp, waiting for pressure to stabilize.

pressure rose to around 2.5e-02 Torr (close to our bad pressure)

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 13:52

IGP1=5.4e-04 Torr Start ramp at 2A/min

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 17:53

Pressure has started to drop so increased ramp to 4A/min

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 18:18

 Second small pressure bump observed at 482A and 5.0 V.  Pressure falling.  Will leave at 500A for 4 hours . 

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 22:00

IGP1= 8.0 e-06 Torr

TGHT=500A, 5.2V

Initiate rampdown to 450A and will leave there for 8 hours

Thursday, October 12, 2023, 07:02

Initiate rampdown to zero.  IGP1=3.21e-06 Torr

TGHT= 450A, 4.6V

 Tuesday, April 09, 2024, 14:42

Cartridge #16 loaded with 213 plus 3 analysi discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 2.4 e-06 Torr

Tuesday, April 09, 2024, 14:42

Start ramp @2A/min to 120A then wait for pressure drop to continue.

Tuesday, April 09, 2024, 16:51

Set ramp to 2A/30s to 480A

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 00:02

Ramping down to 450 A

Thursday, April 11, 2024, 09:56

Cool down Wednesday morning

Will be left under vacuum in EVAP1 due to hotlab closure.

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 06:19

Cartridge #19 loaded with 232 discs including 5 analysis discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 3.12 e-06 Torr

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 06:20

Starting step one in ramping

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 09:12  

Pressure lowered after passing outgas peak. 

IGP1= 2.5e-05 Torr

will continue with step 2 of ramping

 Thursday, September 12, 2024, 14:46

At 115A outgas peak observed and current ramped down from 120A t 115A.  Allowing pressure to drop before continuing ramp.

Roughing pump issue.  Cooling, turning pumps off until vacuum group can take a look.

Friday, September 13, 2024, 14:39

Roughing pump seems ok.  Restarting ramp at 1A/min to 115A

Friday, September 13, 2024, 17:38

Starting ramp up at 2A/min to 520A (will monitor pump and outgassing)

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 07:44

inflection point at aroung 450A

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 07:48

pressure started dropping at 466A, but some sporadic peaks observed.  Will heat to 488A and leave for 4 hours

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 20:23  

 ramping down after 8 hour conditioning

IGP1= 2.45e-06 Torr

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 06:45

Cartridge #20 loaded with 224 discs plus 3 analysis discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 1.5 e-06 Torr

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 06:47

Starting initial ramp @ 2A/min to 60A

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 10:05

Started ramp at 1A/min to 90A

Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 07:05

Reduction at 480A held for 4 hours then 8 hours at 450A

Tested by increasing 10A and significant increase in pressure observed (no real peak). 

Started rampdown at -2Amin