Some spectacular cases of outgassing problems have involved deep-space probes, such as the Stardust comet sample return probe where condensation of an unwanted substance on the camera sensor reduced image quality.Īnother fascinating engineering problem with vacuum systems is that when you open your chamber up for servicing your equipment, water vapor will get in.
The list of nonpermissible materials is long. You cannot use just any steel it has to be stainless steel. The phenomena of unwanted molecules being released into your vacuum system is called outgassing and is one of the most challenging engineering aspects of vacuum technology: you need to pick the right materials that don’t release so many molecules. You probably know the smell of rubber that smell comes from released gas molecules, and if you have a smelly rubber material in a vacuum chamber it will destroy your vacuum. For instance, the very metal and glass materials that make up your vacuum chamber might be the culprit in destroying the vacuum (not so much an issue for high-end systems).Īdditionally, sealants, adhesives, and lubricants are releasing a lot of molecules. In that case, you get gas molecules into your chamber from the fact that almost all materials naturally release gas molecules to its surroundings. So where do these gas molecules come from? One source could be that the chamber is not perfectly sealed. Why? Gas molecules have a way of seeping into the chamber in a number of different ways, and more molecules means increased pressure - and then the vacuum is destroyed. Your pumps need to be running all the time. Now, to get a high vacuum you cannot just pump for a while and then shut the pump off. Typical vacuum chamber in a research lab. There are, of course, also more “everyday vacuum” applications such as that of a thermos bottle’s insulating layer or an incandescent light bulb.įor high-tech vacuum applications, engineers use a range of specialized high-vacuum pumps to pull out air molecules from a tightly enclosed vacuum chamber. These include mass spectrometers, molecular beam equipment for doping of semiconductors, chemical vapor deposition for thin optical coatings, electron microscopy, particle accelerators, and satellites. Turns out, there are actually quite a few high-tech applications where vacuum technology is critical or beneficial. Where can we find applications that require a vacuum on Earth? For one, manufacturing of computer chips wouldn’t be possible without vacuum-based processes. Many High-Tech Applications Require Vacuum Technology It is at these low pressures that molecular flow occurs. To achieve such an environment in an artificial setting here on Earth is a very challenging task, and it turns out one cannot even come close to the low pressures of an interstellar vacuum. Vacuum is naturally associated with the hostile environment of deep space.
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