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Electron Beam Processing of Materials
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Electron Beam System
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Before Electron Beam Processing After
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E-Beam Melted Nb |
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Top-HIROX image of Melted Nb Bottom-Grain Deviation Comparison |
E-beam processing is a powerful technique
for enhancing and improving the properties of advanced materials. FMT has successfully used E-beam
for:
- joining ceramic to super-alloy; melting niobium for SRF cavities;
- improving electric breakdown field in OFE copper and Stainless Steel
electrodes; and
- reducing dark current in OFE electrodes.
Photographs:
Top Left: An electron beam system designed to generate an intense pulsed
electron beam for material processing. Processing can be in single or multiple shot modes or DC. The electron beam system is
presently used for irradiating metal components to suppress electrical
breakdown at high voltage, reduce undesirable electron emission, shorten
conditioning time of RF components and melting niobium for SRF cavities.
Top Right: Comparison of the same surface location
before and after electron beam irradiation. Each photo extends 0.15 mm ´ 0.22 mm in actual dimensions. Breakdown measurements on
the optimally irradiated surfaces produced an average breakdown of 109 MV/m
while the non-irradiated surfaces had an average breakdown value of 58
MV/m, an 88% improvement.
Bottom Left: Melted regions in niobium plates; Bottom Right: HIROX image of melted and un-melted region in Nb; Bottom Right Lower: Comparison of grain deviation for Nb subject to e-beam processing and deep drawn, e-beam processing reduces strain by a factor of ten.
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