Thursday, October 02, 2014, 11:22

It was found that after the last process, Evap#2 has broken insulators - the cylinder insulator that supports the target centre legs and the block insulator that supports the terminals.  

Informed Anders/Rick.

Thursday, September 25, 2014, 17:32

Target boat is filled with Ta-coated endcaps.  The caps are stacked together.  In between each cap, a piece of graphite foil is used for separation so the Ta caps would not fused. 

See link for photos:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rydtdho6ggh4l3l/AAAYmvqT0mVQ_pnz4iecS4ksa?dl=0

The boat is wrapped with 3-layers of heatshields.  The chamber is currently being pumped down.

TGHT will be ramped up to 580A and the temperature will be measured.

Monday, September 29, 2014, 11:12

TGHt was stepped up to 40A on last Friday and chamber continues to pump down over the weekend.

Vac @ 2.56e-6 Torr, mp @ 19mTorr.

Ramping up TGHT 580A at 1.0A/min.

 Monday, September 29, 2014, 11:50

TGHT tripped off at 53A.  Reduce ramping rate to 0.5A/min for now.

 Monday, September 29, 2014, 16:17

Vacuum is coming down to 9.5e-7 Torr.  Increased ramping rate to 1.0A/min.

 Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 11:59

TGHT reached to 580A/10.18V.  Target has been heated at that current for almost 12 hrs. Vac @ 4.9e-7 Torr.

Local temp measured with Mikron = (1500C + 250 C correction) = 1750C

Cooling down at 2A/min.

 Thursday, October 02, 2014, 11:13

The coating is fully sintered; no sign of any damage on the endcaps.  

Process is successful.  

Laura Lambert wrote:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 15:00 A new target boat [new design with no end caps] was sprayed with TaC coating and let dry. The target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of Ta-heat shield. The boat was installed in EVAP2, chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 18:31

Chamber was pumped down to 2.5e-6 Torr. 

HS water valve open; no leaks detected.

Stepping up TGHT to 40A - pressure is increasing...

 Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 19:05

Auto-ramping TGHT to 580A at 0.5A/min.  Temperature will be measured and TGHt will be adjusted accordingly.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 11:57

Pressure is stable at 2.2-6 Torr as TGHT is ramping up.  Increase ramping rate to 2.0A/min.  Currently TGHT at 540A.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 15:36

TGHT at 580A for 2 hrs.  Inner tube temp (left side wall, viewing from the window port) ~1800C (measured with Mikron = 1550C +250C em. correction); Vac @ 1.67e-6 Torr.

Temperature measurement distance from the window to Mikron = 45cm.

Increase TGHT to reach 2000C (Mikron @ 1750C)

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 18:14

TGHT has gone up to 725A/13.2V.  Temp measured at 1740C (+250C = ~2000C).  Pressure gone up to 5.5e-6 Torr and it's coming down slowly.

Will continue heating at this temperature for a few hours; then cool down afterward.

 Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 18:56

Temperature is pretty stable at 1740C on Mikron, and pressure is still coming down, currently at 2.9e-6 Torr.

Slow ramping down TGHT at 1.0A/min.  The chamber should be ready for venting tomorrow. 

Target boat will be inspected.

 Thursday, September 25, 2014, 17:25.

The boat was inspected and it turned out great!  The coating was fully sintered and there is no sign of damage on the boat. 

See the link for photos.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m7ycqhkj4avfull/AABHVTweTsP4ajeWZ6uoY010a?dl=0

 Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 15:00

A new target boat [new design with no end caps] was sprayed with TaC coating and let dry.

The target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of Ta-heat shield.

The boat was installed in EVAP2, chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Thursday, September 11, 2014, 13:14

The target container end caps were coated with TaC spray and let dry.

The caps are inserted in the target boat wrapped in graphite foil with 3 x Ta-heat shields.

The chamber is currently pumping down.

 Friday, September 12, 2014, 14:17

Chamber was pumped down overnight.

HS cooling water valves opened, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 7.2e-7 Torr.

TGHT stepped up to 35A, TBHT at 0A.

Waited ~30min, current stabilized, vacuum started to drop, auto-ramp initiated at 0.2A/min.

Will ramp TGHT to 580A with a max 10V.

Good vacuum: 3.00e-5 Torr; Bad vacuum: 4.00e-5 Torr.

 Monday, September 15, 2014, 11:31

TGHT stopped at 500A due to not high enough voltage max.

Increased max voltage to 12V

 Monday, September 15, 2014, 14:17

IGP1 = 6.3e-7 Torr

Increasing ramping rate to 1.0A/min

 Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 09:04

TGHT reached 577A and finished auto-ramping, then proceeded to drop down to 560A overnight.

Increased max voltage to 13.05A and TGHT to 580A.

 Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 13:52

TGHT reached 580A and sat there for ~5hrs.

IGP1 = 6.1e-7 Torr.

Initiating auto-cool at 2.0A/min.

 Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 13:03

Vented in air.

Opened up....looked 'deceivingly' ok.

then i took a layer of Ta off....grrrr  

the 1st layer of Ta was holding the boat together. as soon as that layer was taken off the target boat broke.

see attached photos.

John Wong wrote:

Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 15:59 Target consists of 400 Ta discs.  Total packed length 4.5cm Total mass 47.490g. Re foil inserted. Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 16:07 Chamber is currently being pumped down. No Ta heat-shield wrapped (Want to check the temperature without it)  One end-cap inserted on left (wrt ionizer into the page). TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A/230A at 2A/min.  Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 18:07 Vacuum at 2.3e-6 Torr.  HS water valve opened.  No leaks. Initiated auto-ramping.  Thursday, August 07, 2014, 11:39 Target has been heated for 11hrs at TGHT/TBHT = 820A/230A. Temperature measured with pyrometer: Target leg = 1600C + (250 correction for e=0.25) = 1850C Inside target material = dark, temp can't be measured. Cooling down at 2A/min for TGHT and 1A/min TBHT.

 Friday, August 08, 2014, 15:14

Vented in air and opened up up this morning.

Endcaps inserted and expanded.

Rh foil and salts added.

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote:  Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 12:02 The target container end caps were coated with TaC spray and let dry. The caps are inserted in the target boat vertically, wrapped in graphite foil with 3 x Ta-heat shield. [see attached photo] The chamber is currently being pumped down.    Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 17:19 HS water valve opened; no leaks detected.  Pressure @ 2.5e-6 Torr. Ramping up TGHT to 580A @ 1A/min.

 Thursday, August 07, 2014, 08:11

Yesterday the target boat was taken out.

The boat broke as it turns out it was used for a Niobium target and therefore wasn't coated with TaC.

The end caps were fully sintered.

Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 15:59

Target consists of 400 Ta discs. 

Total packed length 4.5cm

Total mass 47.490g.

Re foil inserted.

Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 16:07

Chamber is currently being pumped down.

No Ta heat-shield wrapped (Want to check the temperature without it) 

One end-cap inserted on left (wrt ionizer into the page).

TGHT and TBHT will be ramped up to 820A/230A at 2A/min.

 Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 18:07

Vacuum at 2.3e-6 Torr.  HS water valve opened.  No leaks.

Initiated auto-ramping.

 Thursday, August 07, 2014, 11:39

Target has been heated for 11hrs at TGHT/TBHT = 820A/230A.

Temperature measured with pyrometer:

Target leg = 1600C + (250 correction for e=0.25) = 1850C

Inside target material = dark, temp can't be measured.

Cooling down at 2A/min for TGHT and 1A/min TBHT.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 12:02 The target container end caps were coated with TaC spray and let dry. The caps are inserted in the target boat vertically, wrapped in graphite foil with 3 x Ta-heat shield. [see attached photo] The chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 17:19

HS water valve opened; no leaks detected. 

Pressure @ 2.5e-6 Torr.

Ramping up TGHT to 580A @ 1A/min.

 Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 12:02

The target container end caps were coated with TaC spray and let dry.

The caps are inserted in the target boat vertically, wrapped in graphite foil with 3 x Ta-heat shield. [see attached photo]

The chamber is currently being pumped down.

Peter Kunz wrote:

Target was conditioned for 4 hours at 580A. Initiating ramp-down sequence @ 2A/min

 Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 12:00

target vented in air and taken out this morning

Target was conditioned for 4 hours at 580A.

Initiating ramp-down sequence @ 2A/min

The maximum current of 580A was reached at 9:15.

TGHT:RDCUR 578 A

TGHT:RDVOL 9.87 V

IGP1:RDVAC 3.8e-6

The temperature was measured with the Minolta 2-color pyrometer:

from the side - inside target container : ~1200 deg C

from the front trough hole in the heat shield : ~1800 deg C

Laura Lambert wrote:

Monday, July 28, 2014, 14:41 Total number of foils: 445 discs Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 49.027 g Total length packed: 11.2 cm Container has no Ta heat shields. Currently being pumped down.

 Tuesday, July 29, 2014, 11:19

Chamber was pumped down overnight to ~5.5e-7 torr.

HS water valve opened; no leaks were detected.

Stepped up TGHT/TBHT to 40A. IG went up 8e-6 Torr and stabilized. 

Initiated auto-ramping TGHT @ 580A, TBHt @ 230A at 0.2A/min

 Monday, July 28, 2014, 14:41

Total number of foils: 445 discs

Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 49.027 g

Total length packed: 11.2 cm

Container has no Ta heat shields.

Currently being pumped down.

John Wong wrote:

Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 15:07 Target container is coated with TaC.  No Ta-heat shields are used. TGHT will be ramped up to 580A at 0.2A/min. TBHT will be ramped up to 230A at 0.2A/min. Chamber is currently being pumped down  Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 17:40 Vacuum came down to mid 10-6 Torr. Stepped up TGHT and TBHT to 30A - IG1 @ 1.4e-5 Torr. Initiated auto-ramping.  Thursday, July 24, 2014, 17:19 TGHT and TBHT have reached to 100A, and vacuum is coming down to 1.4e-6 Torr. Increase ramping rate, TGHT to 1A/min, TBHT 0.5A/min.  Friday, July 25, 2014, 11:26 Target container temperature reaches ~1550C at 580A on TGHT and 230A TBHT, and it has been heated for ~10 hrs. Auto-cooling initiated at 2A/min.

 Monday, July 28, 2014, 10:50

vented in air and opened this morning. successful run

Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 15:07

Target container is coated with TaC.  No Ta-heat shields are used.

TGHT will be ramped up to 580A at 0.2A/min.

TBHT will be ramped up to 230A at 0.2A/min.

Chamber is currently being pumped down

 Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 17:40

Vacuum came down to mid 10-6 Torr.

Stepped up TGHT and TBHT to 30A - IG1 @ 1.4e-5 Torr.

Initiated auto-ramping.

 Thursday, July 24, 2014, 17:19

TGHT and TBHT have reached to 100A, and vacuum is coming down to 1.4e-6 Torr.

Increase ramping rate, TGHT to 1A/min, TBHT 0.5A/min.

 Friday, July 25, 2014, 11:26

Target container temperature reaches ~1550C at 580A on TGHT and 230A TBHT, and it has been heated for ~10 hrs.

Auto-cooling initiated at 2A/min.

Laura Lambert wrote:

John Wong wrote: Laura Lambert wrote:  Friday, June 20, 2014, 11:14 Total number of foils: 515 discs Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 64.7224g Total length packed: 17.8cm Container is wrapped with 3x Ta-heat shields. Currently being pumped down.  Friday, June 20, 2014, 14:56 HS cooling water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 6.2e-6 Torr TGHT max = 820A/ 17V TBHT max = 300A/ 5V Stepping up manually to 40A  Friday, June 20, 2014, 16:04 IGP1 = 8e-6 Torr Slowly stepped up to 35A manually. Vacuum has stabilized. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min    Friday, June 20, 2014, 16:16 Changing the heating current...  From the previous SiC targets, TGHT was ramped up to 800A and yellow crystals were found; the end caps and target legs were also found broken (see my iPad).  This might be too hot for the Ta-boat to handle the sintering process.  For this process, TGHT will ramp up to 600A and TBHT to 230A over the weekend.  Then, the temperature will be measured.  The sintering temperature of SiC is ~1800 - 2000C.     Monday, June 23, 2014, 09:45 IGP1 = 5e-6 Torr TGHT and TBHT are at ~200A Increasing ramping rate to 0.2A/min  Monday, June 23, 2014, 11:19 IGP1 = 6.9e-6 Torr Increasing ramping rate to 2.0A/min Monday, June 23, 2014, 12:09 JW:  Pressure went up too fast... lower the TGHT ramping up rate to 1A/min.  Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 16:06 Increasing current with respect to temperature: See attached table

 Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 23:44

Target has been heated at 600A.  Local temperature measured on the right leg = 1814C. 

RGA/ striptool/temperature data can be found on this link: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/69memvh6fthodoz/AABZiSKAR9njhbqO4sBATVbla

Something interesting was observed about the out gassing of this target - the right window was coated when the temperature rose above 1500C (on the right end, could be hotter inside?) - see attachment.

I suspect this is Si vapour deposited on the window when the target heater got closed to the sintering temperature for SiC (1800 - 2000C).  

Once the chamber is vented, the coated window will be inspected and analyzed.  More details later...  

Initiate auto-cooling (slow cool down)  TGHT 1A/min; TBHT 0.5/min.  Chamber should be able for venting tomorrow afternoon.  

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote:  Friday, June 20, 2014, 11:14 Total number of foils: 515 discs Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 64.7224g Total length packed: 17.8cm Container is wrapped with 3x Ta-heat shields. Currently being pumped down.  Friday, June 20, 2014, 14:56 HS cooling water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 6.2e-6 Torr TGHT max = 820A/ 17V TBHT max = 300A/ 5V Stepping up manually to 40A  Friday, June 20, 2014, 16:04 IGP1 = 8e-6 Torr Slowly stepped up to 35A manually. Vacuum has stabilized. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min    Friday, June 20, 2014, 16:16 Changing the heating current...  From the previous SiC targets, TGHT was ramped up to 800A and yellow crystals were found; the end caps and target legs were also found broken (see my iPad).  This might be too hot for the Ta-boat to handle the sintering process.  For this process, TGHT will ramp up to 600A and TBHT to 230A over the weekend.  Then, the temperature will be measured.  The sintering temperature of SiC is ~1800 - 2000C.

 Monday, June 23, 2014, 09:45

IGP1 = 5e-6 Torr

TGHT and TBHT are at ~200A

Increasing ramping rate to 0.2A/min

 Monday, June 23, 2014, 11:19

IGP1 = 6.9e-6 Torr

Increasing ramping rate to 2.0A/min

Monday, June 23, 2014, 12:09

JW:  Pressure went up too fast... lower the TGHT ramping up rate to 1A/min.

 Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 16:06

Increasing current with respect to temperature: See attached table

Laura Lambert wrote:

Friday, June 20, 2014, 11:14 Total number of foils: 515 discs Total mass of materials [incl graphite foils]: 64.7224g Total length packed: 17.8cm Container is wrapped with 3x Ta-heat shields. Currently being pumped down.  Friday, June 20, 2014, 14:56 HS cooling water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 6.2e-6 Torr TGHT max = 820A/ 17V TBHT max = 300A/ 5V Stepping up manually to 40A  Friday, June 20, 2014, 16:04 IGP1 = 8e-6 Torr Slowly stepped up to 35A manually. Vacuum has stabilized. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min

 Friday, June 20, 2014, 16:16

Changing the heating current... 

From the previous SiC targets, TGHT was ramped up to 800A and yellow crystals were found; the end caps and target legs were also found broken (see my iPad).  This might be too hot for the Ta-boat to handle the sintering process. 

For this process,

TGHT will ramp up to 600A and TBHT to 230A over the weekend. 

Then, the temperature will be measured.  The sintering temperature of SiC is ~1800 - 2000C.