インジウム真空シール

インジウム真空シール ヘリウムを通さない密閉シール、金属とガラスやセラミックなどの非金属基板の橋渡しに最適な素材です。その汎用性は極低温環境、真空ポンプ、熱に敏感な領域にまで及び、信頼性の高い封じ込めを保証します。

インジウムがシーラントとして使用されるとき、他のガスケット材料の単なるバリア形成とは異なり、接続する表面との化学結合が開始されます。特に、インジウムシールは機械的衝撃、振動、および極端な温度に対する耐性を示し、要求の厳しい用途に不可欠なものとなっています。

インジウムの固有の特性として、表面に酸化膜が形成される傾向があります。基板との完全な結合を確立するには、圧縮と塑性変形によってこの膜を破壊する必要があります。このプロセスはインジウムの可鍛性によって促進され、極低温でも容易に発生し、効果的な密封を保証します。

The quality of an インジウムシール hinges upon several factors:

  1. 純粋さと清潔さ: 最適なインジウム純度レベルは 99.99% ですが、特定の用途では 99.999% のインジウム純度が要求されます。汚染物質、特に有機化合物は脱脂によって除去する必要があります。表面酸化物は、50% 塩酸に短時間浸した後、脱イオン水ですすぐことで除去できます。
  2. 表面処理: すべての表面は徹底的に洗浄し、乾燥させる必要があります。ガラスとセラミックの表面は、クロム酸と硫酸で処理し、その後塩酸と脱イオン水ですすいでください。インジウム金属の表面は、むき出しのまま、インジウムであらかじめ錫メッキされているか、インジウムまたは銀でメッキされている場合があります。表面仕上げは、磨きすぎたり研磨による変化がないように、慎重に行う必要があります。
  3. インジウムの厚さと形状: インジウム シールの厚さは、表面積と圧縮力によって異なります。インジウム O リング溝アプリケーションでは、圧縮時にインジウム シールが溝の寸法を 5-15% 超える必要があります。特定のシナリオでは、インジウムの重なり合うセグメントが連続ワッシャーの代わりに使用できます。適切に形成されたシールは、2 x 10-7 torr x リットル/秒未満のリーク率を示します。

インジウムの選択、表面処理、シール構成に関する綿密な手順を順守することで、エンジニアは重要なアプリケーションにおける気密シールの信頼性と有効性を確保できます。

infium seal

物理的特性

One of the most notable physical properties of インジウム is its exceptional ductility and malleability. Indium possesses a Mohs hardness of just 1.2, significantly lower than that of copper (2.5-3) and aluminum (2-2.9), making it much softer and easier to deform.

It has a relatively low melting point of 156.6°C, allowing it to be easily molded into various shapes and sizes, such as preforms and wires, to fit specific sealing applications.

Indium can be fabricated into thicknesses ranging from thin (0.008 inches) to thick (0.062 inches), depending on the mating surfaces and required compressive forces.

Chemical Properties

Indium’s chemical properties also play a crucial role in its suitability for sealing applications. The metal forms self-passivating oxide layers that can be easily removed with an acid etch, which is essential for creating clean, effective seals.

The ultra-high purity of indium, often reaching levels of 99.99% or even 99.999%, is necessary to prevent hardening at low temperatures and to restrict impurities of elements with low vapor pressure, ensuring reliable vacuum, hermetic, or cryogenic seals.

Sealing Characteristics

Indium‘s ability to form hermetic seals without the need for heat is particularly advantageous in environments where heat or solder flux might cause issues such as outgassing.

When used as a sealant, indium initiates a chemical bond with the surfaces it connects, offering superior sealing capabilities compared to other gasket materials which merely act as barriers.

This property allows indium seals to maintain their integrity even under mechanical shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures, making them indispensable in demanding applications.

表面処理

Proper surface preparation is critical for achieving high-quality indium seals. Surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned and dried, with specific treatments for different materials. For example, glass and ceramic surfaces should be treated with chromic and sulfuric acids, followed by a hydrochloric acid and deionized water rinse.

Indium metal surfaces may require pre-tinning or plating with indium or silver to ensure optimal bonding.

The removal of surface oxides through compression and plastic deformation is facilitated by the malleability of indium, ensuring effective sealing even at cryogenic temperatures.

Indium’s versatility extends to its use in forming helium-tight hermetic seals, capable of bridging metals and non-metallic substrates like glass and ceramics. This makes indium an essential material in applications requiring reliable performance in vacuum pumps, cryogenic environments, and other heat-sensitive areas.

Indium Vacuum Sealing Technology

Indium vacuum sealing technology leverages the unique properties of indium to create reliable and effective seals in a variety of applications, including cryogenic environments, vacuum pumps, and heat-sensitive areas.

This technology is particularly valued for its ability to form helium-tight hermetic seals, bridging both metallic and non-metallic substrates like glass and ceramics.

Properties and Advantages

Indium is characterized by its low melting point, high malleability, and ductility, which make it an ideal material for vacuum sealing.

Unlike gaskets made from other materials that only form a barrier, indium creates a chemical bond with the surfaces it connects, enhancing the seal’s resilience against mechanical shock, vibration, and low temperatures.

A notable feature of indium is its tendency to develop an oxide film on its surface. To establish a pristine bond with a substrate, this oxide film must be disrupted through compression and plastic deformation, a process facilitated by the metal’s malleability.

This ensures effective sealing even at cryogenic temperatures without the need for heat.

アプリケーション

Indium vacuum seals have a wide array of applications due to their unique properties and ability to operate effectively under extreme conditions. The versatility of indium seals makes them suitable for industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to medical and industrial sectors.

Aerospace and Automotive
In the aerospace and automotive sectors, indium seals are used for their excellent sealing properties and their ability to maintain a vacuum under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. This ensures the integrity of components and systems that operate in harsh environments.

Medical and Industrial
The medical and industrial applications of indium vacuum seals are extensive. Indium seals are used in medical devices and equipment that require high purity and reliability, such as diagnostic tools and bioimplants. For instance, personalized medicine and point of care (POC) diagnostics often rely on devices that operate at a molecular level, where the precise functioning of seals is crucial.

Smart Technology Integration
A growing trend in インジウムシールデザイン is the integration of smart technology. With the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), there is an increasing demand for sealing solutions that can monitor and control various processes in real-time. Indium seals are well-suited for these applications due to their unique properties, allowing them to be used in a wide range of scenarios. By incorporating sensors and other smart devices into indium seals, manufacturers can create more efficient and intelligent sealing solutions.

Surface Analytical Techniques
In the realm of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) applications, indium seals are critical for maintaining the vacuum conditions necessary for surface analytical techniques. These techniques include X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and others. UHV conditions are essential to reduce surface contamination during these analyses. Indium seals help achieve the stringent vacuum conditions required for these high-precision techniques, enabling accurate and reliable measurements.

Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies such as anti-fouling properties, bioimplants, and diagnostic devices also benefit from the use of indium vacuum seals. These applications require a fundamental understanding of biointerfaces and the ability to maintain sterile and contaminant-free environments. Indium seals contribute significantly to these fields by providing reliable sealing solutions that meet the rigorous demands of modern technology.

Summary

アン インジウム真空シール is a specialized sealing technology that leverages the unique properties of indium, a post-transition metal known for its malleability, ductility, and ability to form hermetic seals. Indium vacuum seals are highly valued for their ability to form helium-tight hermetic seals by chemically bonding with the surfaces they connect. This chemical bonding, as opposed to merely acting as a barrier, ensures superior sealing capabilities that withstand mechanical shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.