[labnetwork] Cleaning up/ reconditioning VCR seals?

[Mac Hathaway]

Hello All,

I'm wondering if anyone has ever developed a scheme for polishing or 
reconditioning VCR sealing surfaces.  Obviously, buying a new one is the 
best approach, but some of our fittings are rather expensive or hard to 
come by, and some technique for cleaning up mild wear or whatnot would 
be handy.  And of course, this would not be applied to toxics.

I leak test these down to 1E-12 torr-liter/sec, so that would be my 
goal.  I imagine coaxial spinning of the fitting surface would be best 
(not hand-held), but what final grit would be needed.  Is 
electropolishing absolutely necessary to get a good seal?  This would be 
very light polishing, not enough to flatten the bead of the seal.

Any trick to keeping the polished particles out of the bore, or just an 
ultrasonic clean at the end?

If it's impossible, that's good to know, as well.

Thanks,


Mac


Mac Hathaway

Senior Process and Systems Engineer

Harvard Center for Nanoscale Systems

11 Oxford St.

Cambridge, MA02138

617-495-9012


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