Ultra-high vacuum (UHV) components must be fabricated from low-outgassing materials like 304 or 316L stainless steel, high-purity alumina ceramics, and oxygen-free copper. Avoid materials like zinc, cadmium, or standard plastics, which vaporize under vacuum and destroy the integrity of the chamber environment.
Ceramic-to-metal seals offer vastly superior mechanical strength, excellent electrical insulation at high voltages, and higher thermal tolerances. They easily withstand extreme thermal cycling and intense bakeout temperatures up to 450°C, making them ideal for ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environments where glass alternatives fail.
Leak rates are quantified by measuring the volume of gas flowing through a leak path per unit of time at a specific pressure differential. The industry standard unit for high-performance hermetic feedthroughs is atmospheric cubic centimeters per second (atm cc/sec of helium) or millibar-liters per second (mbar·l/s).
Helium is used because it is an inert, non-toxic gas with a small atomic size, allowing it to pass rapidly through microscopic pathways. Its low natural presence in air (5 ppm) allows mass spectrometer leak detectors to isolate and measure minuscule leak rates without background interference.
For electronics, hermetically sealed means the housing completely isolates internal components from environmental degradation like humidity, atmospheric pressure changes, and corrosive gases. This durable protection is vital for sensitive aerospace, military, and subsea electronic assemblies to prevent premature component failure.
A true hermetic seal is an entirely airtight joint that prevents the permeation of gas, moisture, and contaminants into or out of a sealed volume. In vacuum systems, this is typically achieved through molecularly bonded ceramic-to-metal or glass-to-metal seals, maintaining ultra-high vacuum integrity down to 10⁻¹¹ Torr.
Floating shield configurations are necessary when signal return paths must be kept completely isolated from the vacuum chamber ground to eliminate electrical ground loops. This layout isolates the outer conductor shield from the system flange, protecting low-voltage instrumentation signals from electromagnetic interference and background system noise.
As ambient pressure drops, air loses its dielectric strength, significantly increasing the risk of electrical arcing (per Paschen’s Law). Consequently, high voltage feedthroughs must utilize extended external ceramic lengths or specialized silicone insulation boots to artificially increase the creepage path and preserve safe voltage handling capabilities.
Viewport safety factors are determined by evaluating the window material’s flexural strength relative to the clear aperture diameter and glass thickness. A minimum 4:1 ratio against atmospheric pressure load is the standard design target. Material selection is a critical input: fused silica offers superior UV transmission and thermal stability, borosilicate
An industrial electrical feedthrough features a true hermetic seal utilizing molecularly bonded ceramic or glass insulators. This construction maintains severe atmospheric pressure differentials and ultra-high vacuum integrity while simultaneously conducting high electrical currents or sensitive signals safely across the chamber bulkhead without degradation.
Premium vacuum feedthroughs utilize specialized geometry and blind-hole venting to completely eliminate trapped pockets of atmospheric gas. Combining these design methodologies with high-purity ceramic-to-metal brazing prevents outgassing and virtual leaks, allowing systems to reach ultra-high vacuum (UHV) thresholds efficiently without downstream contamination.
Selecting a feedthrough requires identifying your transmission medium (power, signal, fluid, or motion), maximum voltage/current loads, operational temperature limits, and your system’s vacuum level (HV vs. UHV). Additionally, you must cross-reference physical envelope constraints and material compatibility with reactive process gases to ensure longevity.
Yes. MPF uses the Order Number to identify the order.
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Yes, if the order has not already shipped. Contact Customer Service to request an upgraded shipping method. Additional shipping charges will apply.
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Yes. Contact Customer Service to request a refund for the sales tax charge.
Place the order, then contact Customer Service to let MPF know the certificate was uploaded. After approval, sales tax can be refunded to the card used for purchase.
Create an account before ordering and upload your Tax Exemption Certificate. An MPF employee will review and approve the certificate, which may take up to 24 hours.
Yes. MPF uses an F.O.B. Origin shipping arrangement. Once products are loaded onto the carrier at MPF’s facility, responsibility and shipping risk transfer to the buyer.
MPF guarantees products against production defects and listed performance-data issues for 365 days after receipt. Unused standard catalog items may be returned within 365 days if they are in original packaging. Restocking fees may apply, and custom items cannot be returned.
Standard parts typically ship within a few weeks. Customers can request current lead-time information by email.
Yes. MPF vacuum vessel components can be purchased through the website and shipped worldwide.
Yes. MPF provides information about its testing and quality-control capabilities, including pressure testing, magnetic permeability testing, and related equipment.
MPF uses a helium leak detector to test for leaks at less than 1 x 10^-9 atm cc/sec. Verification up to 1 x 10^-10 may also be available by request.
Yes. MPF carries ISO 9001:2015 certification, meaning its vacuum vessel component manufacturing processes meet stringent quality-management standards.
No. Viewports require specific cleaning procedures based on viewport type. Use MPF’s UHV viewport cleaning guidance rather than soap and water.
No. During low-vacuum pump down, the system can pass through a glow-discharge region with an ionized environment. Applying voltage during this phase can create an electrical short.
MPF uses ceramic-to-metal sealing technology for high-vacuum assemblies and verifies hermetic performance through helium leak detection. Ceramic-to-metal sealing provides mechanical strength and electrical insulation in harsh environments and extreme temperatures.
Yes. MPF can attach custom parts to both standard and specialty assemblies, including custom flanges, mounts, and plates. Mounting options include ISO, KF/QF, wire-seal, ASA/ANSI, and JIS flanges for ultra-high-vacuum chambers.
Standard MPF electric isolators, also known as high-voltage breaks, provide voltage standoff from 5KV to 60KV. Custom isolators can be manufactured for applications requiring up to 225,000 volts of standoff. Each UHV isolator is built as a metal adapter hermetically bonded to alumina ceramic for voltage standoff at each end.
MPF viewports use UV and EUV grade fused silica and sapphire. Available coating options include anti-reflection, ITO, high-reflective, dielectric, enhanced metal, partial reflector, low-loss, and low-absorption coatings.
MPF offers power feedthroughs across a wide voltage range, from 500 volts up to 100KV. These high-voltage feedthroughs are used in applications including healthcare and food safety, and are available in different configurations and ceramic lengths.
Yes. MPF technical specialists help customers design custom UHV systems, custom components, and bespoke ultra-high-vacuum assemblies. MPF also provides quotes for custom UHV components and systems.