Friday, February 26, 2016, 15:44

5 samples were prepared at UBC MTRL using Sol-gel tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) coated on electrospun polyacrylonitrate (PAN). 

Each sample is sandwiched in between graphite foils. 

Sample labeling:

Direct, 0.2358g

Mix, 0.3486g

3X, 0.2273g

5x, 0.2079g

7x, 0.1735g

All samples are loaded in the target boat, stacking on each other.  The Container is wrapped with 2X- Ta shields.

Chamber is pumping down. 

Step#1 Carbonization temperature: 1600C

 Saturday, February 27, 2016, 10:07

Vac at 2.5e-7 torr.

Ramping up TGHT to 300A at 1A/min. monitoring temp.

Saturday, February 27, 2016, 17:38

TGHT at 400A, temp at 1600C. Vac 1.34e-6 Torr.

 Monday, February 29, 2016, 13:04

Samples have been heated at 1635C for almost 2 days. 

Pressure at 2.1e-7 Torr.

Initiated cooling at 2A/min.

 Thursday, March 24, 2016, 11:26

Samples were analyzed for Si using EDX.  Unfortunately, no Si was found.  The vapour pressure of SiO was too high for it to react with PAN to carbonize in a vacuum environment.  

Will look into a different technique.