Atlas CF Flange Specifications
Atlas CF FlangeTM Specifications
Continued from Page-4
Atlas Technologies concentrates most of its
efforts in the development of methods and
processes specifically intended for bonding
dissimilar metals for use in ultrahigh vacuum
(UHV) scientific and industrial applications.
Atlas holds various patents in this technology, including those for the Atlas CF FlangeTM
and the Atlas ATCRTM face seal fitting.
Atlas bimetallic CF flanges—the aluminum flange with
a stainless steel knife-edge seal, make UHV aluminum
vacuum systems a reality.
Atlas CF FlangeTM Features
• atented UHV aluminum to stainless
P
explosion welding technology (EXW)
that is only available from Atlas
• HV Rated to 1x10 -13 Torr
U
• 1/3 The weight of stainless flanges
• 90° included angle long-life knife
edge design developed at CERN
• 100% Compatible with the industry
standard Conflat ® interface
• tandard and reduced stainless steel
S
models available
• ryogenic, non-magnetic, rectanguC
lar and other specialty flange solutions also available
Explosion bonding or welding (EXW) is a solid
state process by which dissimilar metals can
be joined together at an atomic level. Preparation for bonding requires that plates lay flat
to each other, a flyer plate on top of a base
plate separated by a small gap. An explosive
charge is placed on the flyer plate and detonated from a point at the edge of the plate. A
controlled progressive ignition travels across
the flyer plate like ripples in a pond. The explosion accelerates the plates together with
impact velocities of 1800~2200 m/sec. A high
energy surface plasma is formed between the
plates, moving ahead of the collision point
and stripping electrons from the two bonding
surfaces. The electron-hungry metals are then
The Atlas CF FlangeTM is manufactured using
a multi-layered composition consisting of
316L stainless steel, copper, titanium and
6061 T6 aluminum (see EXW interface detail
on page 5).
For maximum weight reduction and minimum
neutron activation, Atlas CF Flanges are
also available with reduced stainless steel
content. Depending on size, reduced stainless flanges are produced with a stainless
interface that's about 20% to 40% thinner
than standard flanges. See Page-22 for more
information on our custom bimetallic, high
and ultrahigh vacuum solutions.
Specifications
Atlas CF Flanges are fully compatible with the industry
standard Conflat® flange. Atlas uses CERN’s 20°
back-bevel knife-edge design with a long-life 90°
encompassed angle geometry. Atlas flanges are quality
controlled using material batch monitoring processes.
Materials
Body / Weld Interface
Aluminum 6061 T-6
Knife-Edge
Stainless Steel 316L
Titanium (Commercially Pure) Optional
Rotatable Collar / Receiver
Aluminum 6061 T-6
304 Stainless Steel Optional
Atlas CF Dimensional Table — Metric
Explosion welding is a violent process, resulting in plate
deformation. Each Atlas flange is produced with careful
attention to post-bond plate flattening and bond-line positioning. All flanges are dimensionally alike, but no two
share the same bond-line position. Bond-line wander
does not impact a flanges' UHV integrity or function. The
Atlas CF FlangeTM bond-line wander tolerance is ± 0.04
inches. Tighter tolerances are available on request.
Stainless Steel
Environmental
Vacuum Leak Tested
< 1x10 -9 cc/sec of He
Thermal
Peak Temperature (< 2 Min. during weld-up)
500°C
Operational Temperature
-200°C to 250°C
Mechanical (EXW Interface)
Tensile
Shear
6 Atlas Technologies
thrust together at extreme pressures forming
an electron-sharing bond. Metals like copper
and stainless steel can be readily bonded
through the EXW process. However aluminum and stainless are incompatible and not
directly bondable, because of the formation
of brittle intermetallic compounds. Atlas has
developed patented multi-layer composites
technologies that provide the metallurgical
compatibility required for joining aluminum to
stainless and other exotic metals.
www.AtlasUHV.com
EXW
Bond-Line
Aluminum
103MPa
69MPa
360-385-3123