Graphite Purification Procedure

Graphite Purification Procedure

  1. Clean graphite foils and discs with ethanol and kimwipes
    1. Keep cleaned disks and foils protected with kimwipes at all times.

  2. Clean “fork” with ethanol and kimwipes, (should be underneath oven).

  3. Insert disks and foils into oven (maximum of 6).
    1. Make sure to alternate disks and foils; there should be 2 foils for every 1 disk.

    2. Place them close together but not touching, do NOT go too far into oven.

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  4. Clean end cap with ethanol and kimwipes.

  5. Check mechanical pump for sufficient oil and if plugged in
    1. Be sure it smells and sounds like it is running properly.

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  6. Make sure the end of the quartz tube is clean and apply a very small amount of vacuum grease to the O-Ring.

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  8. Be sure ALL valves on ALL gas lines are closed.

  9. While one person is holding the end cap on the end of the quartz tube, another person should VERY slowly turn the valve labeled “pump” from closed to open.

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  11. Place mesh casing around quartz tube and thermometer in cable tie of end caps.

  12. Wait until the vacuum is well below 1000 millitorr on both thermocouple gauges.

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  14. Put all fans in position and turn them on high.

  15. Turn the power switch on the oven to the on position.
    1. Wait until the temperature on all three displays appears.

    2. Hold in the blue buttons labeled “set” until “PrG” appears in red.

    3. Push the run button (down arrow) until “-1” appears in green.

    4. Press the set button until “SSP” appears in red (7 times), be sure desired temperature is set using arrow buttons.

    5. Press the set button twice more until “En-1” appears, and set the desired run time in green using the arrows. This time should be at least 45 minutes longer than the actual bake-out time for that particular disk set. The oven’s timer begins when the oven starts to heat up, but we usually want to run for a particular time at exactly 1000°C.
      1. The optimal bake time is generally 1 hour.

    6. Hold the set button in until the temperature appears on th