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High vacuum compatible finish for aluminum?

1995

Q. I am looking for methods to finish Aluminum so they may be used as sealing surfaces in Ultra High and Medium Vacuum systems. Because they are used in vacuum systems, they must be cleaned to remove any machining oils prior to use. Presently the parts are finished with sandpaper and 00 steel wool ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . The desired final finish is in the 8 range (after cleaning). It appears the parts are being etched, during cleaning, just enough to degrade the finish. The only way to get the desired finish back is to polish the surface with 0000 steel wool. It should be noted that some of the surfaces are at the bottom of dovetail o-ring grooves which can have an entry width of 1/8 inch.

Either a different method of finishing or plating is desired. The present method is too time consuming to be practical. Thanks in advance for your help!

Marty Kangiser

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1995

A. I don't know whether it has real applicability to your particular need, but aluminum can be bright dipped in nitric-phosphoric solution to mirror brightness (and commonly is, for reflector use) or it can be electropolished.

Plating is certainly possible, but it sounds like it may be adding a complication factor without addressing the basic issue.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition  🙂

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Q. I am looking for a high-vacuum (5e-5mBar) compatible surface finish for aluminum that will provide wear and oxidation inhibition characteristics equivalent to anodizing. The parts may see temperatures as high as 400 °C during use.

Thanks,

David Meyer
- Waterbury Center, Vermont, USA
2003

A. Electroless nickel should work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003