Manually changed current from 500 to 615 A, monitoring the temperature. Temperature went from 1657 C up to 1838 C. Pressure increased up to 7.2e-7 T. Samples should be left for about 4 hours (615 A started just before 13:00), then the goal is to ramp current back to zero.

 Target boat is now being cooled at 1 A/min from the starting point (616 A) down to 0 A. 

 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.

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.

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.

 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.

 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.

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

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.  

Thursday, October 09, 2014, 15:56

The target boat contains 5 samples of Nb discs.  Each disc is wrapped with Nb foil and labelled. 

Samples will be heated up to 1400C for 4 hours. 

chamber has been pumped down to 3.9e-6 Torr. HS valves open - no leaks detected.

Ramping up TGHT...

Thursday, October 09, 2014, 17:36

Target boat consists of 5 Nb discs.  Each disc is wrapped with Nb foil, and to be heated to 1400C for 4 hours.

Chamber has been pumped down to 6.5e-7 Torr.  HS valves open - no leaks detected.

TGHT has ramped to 330A to maintain the 1400C temperature. 

At 21:30, the target will be cooled down.

Temperature can be monitored from this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kor6gnutnlimqxw/AAAee2yb-Hj3JEbBysrAW2oYa?dl=0

 Thursday, October 09, 2014, 22:48

Samples have been heated at 1420C for over 4 hours.  

Pressure at 6.6 e-7 Torr. 

Cooling process initiated, ramping down at 2A/min. 

 Friday, October 10, 2014, 13:50

Samples were successfully conditions; no signs of any damage.

Tuesday, November 04, 2014, 16:08

The purpose of this experiment is to improve the fabrication of SiC.  Previously, the SiC target was heated to 2000c and yellow crystals were observed.

In this experiment, 10g of SiC powder (7um size) was previously milled down (actual size to be determined under SEM).  The powder was mixed with 5% PVA and the slurry was pour onto a glass and let dry.  The semi-dry slurry was rolled up into balls. The SiC balls were let dry in over (115C) over night. Taken out 2.903g SiC + 5% PVA, it's rolled up with a small sheet of graphite foil.  Then the targer boat is filled with the sample and wrapped with 3-layers of Ta-heat shield.

The sample will be heated up to 2000C to see if the yellow crystals are reproducible.  It is suspected that there might be a phase transformation from 6H alpha-SiC to 3C beta-SiC. 

Chamber is currently being pumped down... 

Wednesday, November 05, 2014, 14:04

TGHT was ramped up over night, currently at 485A = 1800 C. 

Will do manual step up to get to 2000C. 

 Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:27

Four different samples of ZrC are loaded into a target boat.

Sample A: ZrC + NO graphite / hand cut

Sample B: ZrC + NO graphite / laser cut

Sample C: ZrC + graphite / hand cut

Sample D: ZrC + graphite / laser cut

A picture showing the different samples is attached [one face-up/ one face-down sample of each side-by-side]

Each sample consists of ~20-25 discs, stacked together and wrapped in graphite sheet [see attachment for photo]

The target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat shield.

EVAP1 pumped down overnight.

HS water valves were opened this morning, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 5.5e-7 Torr.

Tapping up TGHT manually to 30A...

 Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:54

Tapped up manually to 30A.

Over the course of 20min the vacuum climbed to IGP1 = 1.0 e-5 Torr.

Backed off TGHT to 20A to allow vacuum to stabilize.

Waited ~10min.

Vacuum dropped to IGP1 = 6.5e-6 Torr.

Tapped back-up manually to 30A.

Waited ~45min.

Vacuum stable, IGP1 = 1.2e-5 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 300A / 5.00V.

Good Vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.

 Monday, May 04, 2015, 11:17

IGP1 = 2e-7 Torr.

TGHT = 274A, 4.75V

Ramp-up limited to 275A due to max voltage being set at 5.0V

Increased max voltage to 10V

Tapping up manually to 1800C and recording data.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:27 Four different samples of ZrC are loaded into a target boat. Sample A: ZrC + NO graphite / hand cut Sample B: ZrC + NO graphite / laser cut Sample C: ZrC + graphite / hand cut Sample D: ZrC + graphite / laser cut A picture showing the different samples is attached [one face-up/ one face-down sample of each side-by-side] Each sample consists of ~20-25 discs, stacked together and wrapped in graphite sheet [see attachment for photo] The target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat shield. EVAP1 pumped down overnight. HS water valves were opened this morning, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 5.5e-7 Torr. Tapping up TGHT manually to 30A...  Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:54 Tapped up manually to 30A. Over the course of 20min the vacuum climbed to IGP1 = 1.0 e-5 Torr. Backed off TGHT to 20A to allow vacuum to stabilize. Waited ~10min. Vacuum dropped to IGP1 = 6.5e-6 Torr. Tapped back-up manually to 30A. Waited ~45min. Vacuum stable, IGP1 = 1.2e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 300A / 5.00V. Good Vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.  Monday, May 04, 2015, 11:17 IGP1 = 2e-7 Torr. TGHT = 274A, 4.75V Ramp-up limited to 275A due to max voltage being set at 5.0V Increased max voltage to 10V Tapping up manually to 1800C and recording data.

 Monday, May 04, 2015, 17:24

Samples have been heated at 1800C for >2 hours. 

Vaccum at 4.3e-7 Torr, TGHT 475A/9.1V. (Direct Vol = 5.3V).

Initiated cooling down process.  Chamber will be vented tomorrow.

 Tuesday, May 05, 2015, 10:22

TGHT reached to 0A. Chamber has already vented. 

Samples will be taken out for examination.

 Wednesday, May 06, 2015, 13:54

Two different samples of ZrC are wrapped in graphite sheet and loaded into the target boat.

Sample #1 = ZrC

Sample #2 = ZrC+C

Both samples are hand punched with a 18mm die.

The target boat is wrapped with 3x Ta heat shield.

Pumped down this morning.

HS water valves opened, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 1.5e-6 Torr.

Tapping up manually to 35A...

 Waited ~50min for vacuum to stabilize.

IGP1 = 5.3e-6 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 275A/ 10V

Good vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.

Wednesday, May 06, 2015, 15:37  

Increasing ramping rate to 0.2A/min

 Thursday, May 07, 2015, 11:15

Stopping auto ramp.

TGHT = 273A.

Tapping up manually and recording data...

IGP1 = 6.6e-7 Torr.

 Thursday, May 07, 2015, 14:21

Increased max voltage to 14V

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 09:33

EVAP2 reached 2000C yesterday evening and remained at max setpoint overnight.

IGP1 = 3.8e-7 Torr

Initiated auto-cool this morning at 2.0A/min.

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 11:32

IGP1 = 2.1e-7 Torr

TGHT = 221A, 3.21V

OMEGA = 1100C

Increasing auto-cool to 5.0A/min.

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 15:53

Vented in air and opened up this afternoon.

See attachment for data results.

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote:  Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:27 Four different samples of ZrC are loaded into a target boat. Sample A: ZrC + NO graphite / hand cut Sample B: ZrC + NO graphite / laser cut Sample C: ZrC + graphite / hand cut Sample D: ZrC + graphite / laser cut A picture showing the different samples is attached [one face-up/ one face-down sample of each side-by-side] Each sample consists of ~20-25 discs, stacked together and wrapped in graphite sheet [see attachment for photo] The target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat shield. EVAP1 pumped down overnight. HS water valves were opened this morning, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 5.5e-7 Torr. Tapping up TGHT manually to 30A...  Friday, May 01, 2015, 10:54 Tapped up manually to 30A. Over the course of 20min the vacuum climbed to IGP1 = 1.0 e-5 Torr. Backed off TGHT to 20A to allow vacuum to stabilize. Waited ~10min. Vacuum dropped to IGP1 = 6.5e-6 Torr. Tapped back-up manually to 30A. Waited ~45min. Vacuum stable, IGP1 = 1.2e-5 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 300A / 5.00V. Good Vacuum = 3.00e-5 Torr. Bad vacuum = 4.00e-5 Torr.  Monday, May 04, 2015, 11:17 IGP1 = 2e-7 Torr. TGHT = 274A, 4.75V Ramp-up limited to 275A due to max voltage being set at 5.0V Increased max voltage to 10V Tapping up manually to 1800C and recording data.    Monday, May 04, 2015, 17:24 Samples have been heated at 1800C for >2 hours.  Vaccum at 4.3e-7 Torr, TGHT 475A/9.1V. (Direct Vol = 5.3V). Initiated cooling down process.  Chamber will be vented tomorrow.  Tuesday, May 05, 2015, 10:22 TGHT reached to 0A. Chamber has already vented.  Samples will be taken out for examination.

 Friday, May 08, 2015, 15:55

see attachment for data results.

 Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 15:21

Three different samples of ZrC are loaded into a target boat.

Sample A: ZrC + NO graphite

Sample B: ZrC + graphite [1:0.5 molar ratio]

Sample C: ZrC + graphite [1:1 molar ratio]

Each sample consists of 20 discs, stacked together and wrapped in graphite sheet

The target boat is wrapped with 3 x Ta heat shield.

EVAP2 pumping down overnight...

 Thursday, May 14, 2015, 08:20

HS water valves opened up this a.m, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 6.6e-7 Torr

Tapping up manually to 35A.

Good Vacuum = 3.00 e-5 Torr. Bad Vacuum = 4.00 e-5 Torr.

Thursday, May 14, 2015, 09:51

Tapped up manually to 30A.

After ~25min, vacuum gone up to IGP1 = 3.5e-5 Torr!

Backed off to 20A.

Waited ~10min. IGP1 = 1.75e-5 Torr.

Tapped back up to 25A.

Waited ~20min, IGP1 = 1.4e-5 Torr.

Tapped up to 30A.

Waited ~20min, IGP1 = 2.2e-5 Torr.

Tapped up to 35A

Waited ~50min, IGP1 = 2.5e-5 Torr.

Continuing manual tap-up...

 Thursday, May 14, 2015, 13:27

IGP1 = 9e-6 Torr

Tapped up to 40A.

Waited ~45min, IGP1 = 1e-5 Torr

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min for the TGHT with a max setpoint of 275A/ 8.0V

 Friday, May 15, 2015, 08:25

Max setpoints were changed to 400A/ 8.0V last night.

Reached 400A ~4.5hrs ago.

IGP1 = 4.9e-5 Torr

Initiating manual tap up and recording data.

 Friday, May 15, 2015, 15:50

Samples remained at ~2000C for ~4 hours [see attachment for data]

IGP1 = 7.8e-7 Torr.

Initiating auto-cool at 1.0A/min.

 Tuesday, May 19, 2015, 08:27

Vented in air and opened up this morning.

 Friday, May 22, 2015, 11:43

A target boat was sprayed with TaC coating and let dry yesterday.

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

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

 Friday, May 22, 2015, 14:22

HS water valves opened, no leaks detected.

IGP1 = 2.4e-6 Torr.

Tapping up manually...

 Friday, May 22, 2015, 14:33

Tapped up to 20A.

Vacuum jumped up to 7e-6 Torr.

Backed off to 5A before vacuum started to drop again.

IGP1 = 5e-6 Torr.

Tapping up manually again...just more slowly...

 Friday, May 22, 2015, 15:31

Tapped up to 12A, unable to tap up very fast due to volatile content in coating.

IGP1 = 3.6e-6 Torr.

Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max current of 580A.

 Monday, May 25, 2015, 09:03

IGP1 = 3e-7 Torr.

TGHT = 397.5A, 6.43V

Increasing ramping rate to 1.0A/min.

Laura Lambert wrote:

Friday, May 22, 2015, 11:43 A target boat was sprayed with TaC coating and let dry yesterday. The target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of Ta-heat shield. The boat was installed in EVAP2, chamber is currently being pumped down.  Friday, May 22, 2015, 14:22 HS water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 2.4e-6 Torr. Tapping up manually...  Friday, May 22, 2015, 14:33 Tapped up to 20A. Vacuum jumped up to 7e-6 Torr. Backed off to 5A before vacuum started to drop again. IGP1 = 5e-6 Torr. Tapping up manually again...just more slowly...  Friday, May 22, 2015, 15:31 Tapped up to 12A, unable to tap up very fast due to volatile content in coating. IGP1 = 3.6e-6 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max current of 580A.  Monday, May 25, 2015, 09:03 IGP1 = 3e-7 Torr. TGHT = 397.5A, 6.43V Increasing ramping rate to 1.0A/min.

 Monday, May 25, 2015, 17:06

TGHT at been at 580A for over 4 hours.  Cooling down in process at 1A/min. 

John Wong wrote:

Laura Lambert wrote:  Friday, May 22, 2015, 11:43 A target boat was sprayed with TaC coating and let dry yesterday. The target boat is wrapped with 3-layers of Ta-heat shield. The boat was installed in EVAP2, chamber is currently being pumped down.  Friday, May 22, 2015, 14:22 HS water valves opened, no leaks detected. IGP1 = 2.4e-6 Torr. Tapping up manually...  Friday, May 22, 2015, 14:33 Tapped up to 20A. Vacuum jumped up to 7e-6 Torr. Backed off to 5A before vacuum started to drop again. IGP1 = 5e-6 Torr. Tapping up manually again...just more slowly...  Friday, May 22, 2015, 15:31 Tapped up to 12A, unable to tap up very fast due to volatile content in coating. IGP1 = 3.6e-6 Torr. Initiating auto-ramp at 0.1A/min with a max current of 580A.  Monday, May 25, 2015, 09:03 IGP1 = 3e-7 Torr. TGHT = 397.5A, 6.43V Increasing ramping rate to 1.0A/min.    Monday, May 25, 2015, 17:06 TGHT at been at 580A for over 4 hours.  Cooling down in process at 1A/min.

 Vented in air and opened up this morning.

Target boat looks good! fully sintered!