A Heat Treater’s Primer on Getter Materials

 

Source: VAC AERO International

 

A common dilemma for operators of vacuum systems is to protect the integrity and maintain the life expectancy of components when the presence of unwanted gaseous contaminates threatens to destroy the sensitive materials in the processing environment. Getter materials are the MVPs that step up to the plate to protect work in a low-pressure vacuum environment.

The folks at VAC AERO International have provided a primer on getter materials which answers the heat treater’s questions, such as:

• What is a getter?
• What are the properties of getter materials?
• What materials are best as getters for most heat-treating applications? What about for more sophisticated applications?
• What are non-evaporative getters, and what role do they play?

“For heat treaters, getters are often considered a last resort to help keep parts ‘bright and clean’. In point of fact, they play an important role in successful vacuum processing of many highly sophisticated products and materials. As a result, we need to do a better job of understanding their role; how and where they can help.”

 

Photo Credit and caption: Titanium Discs used as a Getter Material in Brazing of Oxidation Sensitive Components – (Photograph Courtesy of California Brazing, Newark, CA)