[ATM] Applying Protective Coatings

[Jason Hissong <jhissong@gmail.com>]

Hi guys,

Our club ATM group at Perkins Observatory is working on a vacuum chamber 
project and I was interested in knowing ways to add the protective 
coatings to t he mirror once aluminized.  The specific chamber we have 
currently used the Tungsten wire method of evaporating the aluminum.  We 
have most of the pieces now including the diffusion pump, roughing pump, 
and some other stuff.

 From what I researched in the list, it appears that you can simply 
leave the mirror alone for a few weeks and the layer of Aluminum Oxide 
will form on the mirror all by itself.  I also saw a reference in 
Wikipedia about some who bake the mirror in an oven to accelerate the 
oxidation process?  I would be curious if anyone has done this.

Also, there is a vague reference for applying Silicon Monoxide by 
combining silicon and quartz in a crucible and evaporating it in the 
chamber.

Any references in some books would be great!

Thanks for the assistance...

Jason Hissong

-- 

"A long journey starts with the first step and an understanding spouse."
http://www.undermidnight.com - astronomy and astrophotography
http://www.n8xe.com - ham radio
http://www.jasonhissong.com - electronic music composition

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