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DIFFUSION PUMP OPERATIONS

This article is going to focus on the more practical aspects of a diffusion pump, and where it is actually used. However, it is highly recommended to first understand the basic diffusion pump working principle, and then read further regarding this topic. So first off, the concept of the diffusion pump has been around for a century, but the working principle behind it has remained more or less the same. Due to its simplicity and durability, many manufacturing and R&D facilities choose diffusion pumps as their main high-vacuum apparatus. Below are major industries that often have diffusion pumps in their facilities:

SEMICONDUCTORS MANUFACTURING

Semiconductors are essential to our modern day society as we are so dependent on electricity and to conduct that energy, we need semiconductors. We are of course talking about the importance of the diffusion pump, and as you may or may not know, the production of semiconductors involve heavy amounts of silicon crystals, copper, glass, and sometimes hazardous chemicals. Of course many of the chemicals are only harmful when heated to a certain temperature, and that is when the diffusion pump comes in to the equation. Dealing with high temperatures and chemicals, diffusion pumps are arguably the best choice, unless you want to spend an unnecessary amount of money on a turbomolecular pump.

METALLURGY AND METAL COATING

When shaping and extracting metals, most of the time, small particles and chemicals are present. To ensure safety and efficiency, most facilities dealing with metal coating and extraction will utilize a diffusion pump to prevent the particles from entering the atmosphere. For heavier tasks such as shaping and coating, most facilities will use a more powerful diffusion pump running on 704 Diffusion Pump Oil, and even possibly 705 Diffusion Pump Oil.   

VACUUM COATING

Vacuum coating can be very general, as most plastics and glasses get their color and nuance this way. The operation is fairly straight forward and it is the most efficient method of coating anything made out of plastic, for instance car lamps . The uncoated piece of plastic will be in vacuum oven/chamber for a certain amount of time with the right temperature, and the coating will permanently blend with the material. So a diffusion pump is often used during this process, to eliminate all the gasses that are produced by the coating process.

SPUTTERING

A lot like the vacuum coating, sputtering requires more details and a specific thin film coating. In other words, sputtering is a certain method of coating, which takes place in a vacuum environment. When the actual coating takes place, the gas molecules are trapped within the vacuum and is sent to the surface of the material that is being coated. The thin film will stick and since the molecules are only produced under high vacuum, diffusion pumps are needed due to the chemicals and molecular particles that come with the process. Depending on the size of the coating, sputtering as a process can sometimes become a costly process, and to keep the costs on a reasonable level, diffusion pumps should always be properly maintained. Therefore, if you are a beginner, read our diffusion pump oil maintenance guide.

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Many facilities use diffusion pumps due to its minimum noise and vibrations during operation.

DOES YOUR DIFFUSION PUMP REQUIRE SERVICING, REPAIR, OR OVERHAUL? FIND A PROFESSIONAL COMPANY NEAR YOU IN OUR DIFFUSION PUMP SERVICE COMPANY DIRECTORY.