Can you use paint inside a vacuum system?
As a general rule, paint within a vacuum chamber is less than ideal. For certain applications such as space simulation, however, paint is absolutely necessary.
Additionally, it may be helpful to paint the inside of a mild steel vacuum to prevent surface rust. Rust adds to a chamber’s water vapor gas load through moisture adsorption, then desorption.
When paint inside a vacuum system is required, you can count on GNB Corporation to properly select and apply paint so that your system works as designed.
Two possible complications explained
One issue is that paint can stick to the top of the surface texture such as the mill finish or the machined finish of the plate, trapping gas molecules underneath in the crevices. Inside the vacuum, the air bubbles will expand and may cause the paint to come off.
Secondly, outgassing of hydrocarbons and other volatile compounds found in paint can escape and add an additional gas load within the chamber.
Glyptal coat solution
Creating world-class vacuum products is a reflection of GNB Corporation’s expertise and pursuit of excellence. No detail can be ignored. That’s why we use Glyptal as a solution to the potential issues that can arise from a paint job.
Glyptal tends to wick into the pores of the metal. As a result, paint will not sit on the top of the surface finish trapping tiny but consequential gas bubbles underneath. This solution features low-outgassing characteristics. Our testing of this product in various applications shows no contamination of the product inside of the chamber including silicon ingots for making wafers.
Prior to the semiconductor industry boom, Glyptal was developed to seal vacuum tubes, which also required paint inside the vacuum device.
For space simulation, many chambers require a black body or alternatively a heat reflective surface. Cat-a-lac black paint is a common high-emissivity paint that is used inside of a vacuum chamber to absorb radiated heat. Another common black paint is Aeroglaze Z306. Meanwhile, other applications, including space satellites, require reflective surfaces to reduce overheating and prevent other complications while facing the sun during orbit.
Our promise of excellence
At GNB, we are experts in vacuum hardware and tackle challenges head on. We deliver on our promise that our products will meet and exceed our customers’ requirements.
With our world-class products, cutting-edge design and attention to detail, our customers say “WOW!” That is because they know their vacuum products and components will not leak or have contaminants present. That is why we use the motto: “GNB, the Atmosphere of Excellence.” This saying not only relates to the working environment and GNB’s customer service, but the excellence of the controlled atmosphere inside of the products we manufacture.