This guide evaluates aluminum and stainless steel vacuum chamber characteristics, components, and performance. Compared to plastic vacuum chambers, metal vacuum chambers are favorable for applications requiring maintained internal temperatures, heat/cold cycling, extreme temperature ranges, and low outgassing rates. Although they require a larger upfront expense, stainless steel vacuum chambers are cost-effective in the long run due to their durability, extended lifespan, and minimal maintenance. By understanding the materials, construction techniques, and design methodologies, you can make an informed decision and ensure the success of your vacuum processes.
A vacuum chamber is a rigid enclosure that maintains an extremely low-pressure environment and a near-perfect vacuum. Vacuum chambers require a vacuum pump to remove air and other gases from the chamber, creating a low-pressure environment inside. This environment is essential for various scientific research, industrial processes, and testing applications. The level of vacuum achieved can vary widely, depending on the specific requirements of the application, ranging from full vacuum to low vacuum
Vacuum chambers for outgassing and degassing applications must consider the rate and volume of gas released from materials when placed in a vacuum. Outgassing rates can be critical as it might lead to contamination of other surfaces, optical degradation, or material failure in vacuum or space environments.
As an American manufacturer of vacuum chambers and their associated systems, Terra Universal offers an array of vacuum chamber designs for material testing, thermal testing, stress testing, degassing, atmospheric simulation, and more. In this series, we'll discuss smaller benchtop vacuum chambers for small parts, as well as large high-capacity vacuum chamber models for extra large assemblies or components.
A vacuum chamber is a sealed container that creates a localized, low-pressure environment. Vacuum chambers and vacuum gloveboxes are used in a variety of applications including scientific research, manufacturing, product development, performance testing, and simulation environments. Vacuum chamber applications include, but are not limited to, leak testing, stress testing, semiconductor failure analysis, degassing, drying, distillation, permeability testing, coating, specific gravity determination, atmospheric simulations, and inert gas storage.
Terra offers desiccator and desiccator cabinet designs for every purpose - whether it be for transportation, short term or long term storage, these dry cabinets protect sensitive parts and materials of all shapes and sizes from moisture damage, particle contamination, electro-static discharge, and more. Find out which design best fits your needs!
Vacuum Overview
“Vacuum” means the complete absence of matter. In order to create vacuum conditions, pressure within a given space must be lower than the surrounding environment. The quality of the vacuum is dependent upon several factors, including the number of particles within a given space. The inertia of moving particles exerts pressure, so fewer particles means lower pressure. Scientists have given up on the idea that a perfect vacuum is even possible; space is the most ideal vacuum we know of, but hydrogen atoms, energy waves and other moving particles are still present.
Vacuum Chambers
Imperfect as they are, we create vacuums for various applications and processes: sealed chambers that help researchers and manufacturers with tasks including leak testing, stress testing, degassing, drying, distillation, permeability testing, coating, specific gravity determination,