Monday, February 18, 2013, 16:28

The RFQ target container is coated with TaC and ready to be sintered.  No Ta-heat shields are used.  This container will be used for the SiC#28-LPSIS-RFQ. 

Two thermocouples are welded on the container:  One on the end cap and the other on the back block (see attachment#1)

The target will be heated to at least  TGHT at 580A and TBHT at 300A; the vacuum and gasses will be monitored.  

The chamber is currently being pumped down...  

 Friday, February 22, 2013, 14:24

The gasses were analyzed with the RGA:

TGHT @ 520A, TBHT @ 300A:  Mass 28 (CO) reached to max current of ~5pA before the current started to decrease, (see attachment #2).  This could be the indication of the material(s) in the target container was "sort of" fully reduced. 

TGHT was further ramped up  to 600A and heated for a few hours.  The temperature on the end was measured at 1252C and the center block was at 1580C.  (see attachment #3).

The container was successfully sintered with TaC.