John Wong wrote:

John Wong wrote: Laura Lambert wrote:  Friday, May 29, 2015, 11:21 Total number of foils: 425 discs Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 44.41g Total length packed: 12.3cm Container has no heat shields. No endcaps inserted to allow outgassing. Currently being pumped down.  Friday, May 29, 2015, 14:13 HS water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 5.4e-6 Torr. Tapping up manually. Friday, May 29, 2015, 16:48 Tapped up manually to 20A. IGP1 = 5.9e-6 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.2A/min for the TGHT and 0.1A/min for the TBHT. Max setpoints set to 580A and 230A for the TGHT and TBHT respectively. Good Vacuum = 3.0e-5 Torr. Bad Vacuum = 4.0e-5 Torr.  Monday, June 01, 2015, 09:17 IGP1 = 3.8e-6 Torr. TGHT = 478A. TBHT reached max setpoint of 230A. Increasing ramping rate to 0.5A/min.  Monday, June 01, 2015, 13:15 Checked window for temperature readings, good visibility, no coating on window.  IGP1 = 9.1e-6 Torr. TGHT reached max setpoint of 580A 30min ago. Stepping up manually to a target temperature of 2000C...  Monday, June 01, 2015, 16:25 IGP1 = 6.5e-6 Torr. TGHT = 870A, 17.90V OMEGA = 1948C    Monday, June 01, 2015, 17:59 After almost an hour at 870A, the temperature went up from 1948C to 1980C; however temperature around the target container/legs are >2000C.  The voltage on the power supply also went up slightly.  There is a film coated on the window port and that could affect the temp reading. To be safe, I lowered the TGHT to 830A/17.38V, temp at 1930C.  Will keep at 830A for 4 hours and cool down this evening.  Recommend: Using Ta-heat shields for sintering next time.  Monday, June 01, 2015, 22:55 TGHT at 830A for almost 5 hours.   TEMP has gone up to 1994C.  Voltage has also gone up to 19V.   Cooling down at 2A/min for TGHT and 1A/min for TBHT.     Tuesday, June 02, 2015, 12:37 Chamber was vented and the target was inspected.  Some stressed marks on the target container can be observed. The container is also slightly curved but otherwise it's fine.  The materials packed length has expended outward so 3 discs were removed in order to insert the end caps.  The packed length is now 16cm. Two extra graphite foils were inserted on both ends, and previously coated/sintered TaC-end caps are inserted and expended.  Rn foil is inserted & Std solutions are added.  Ready for test-stand. Link to photos for more details: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0cra7viqs9ro8q3/AADEGk8goGI4c-uzRQSGwWmxa?dl=0

 see attachment for data recorded during ZrC conditioning