15.06.2021What is a Temperature controlled Quartz Crystal Microbalance (TQCM)?
A Temperature controlled Quartz Crystal Microbalance (TQCM) is a type of sensor which uses changes in the resonant frequency of a quartz crystal to determine the amount and rate at which mass is deposited onto the crystals surface.
A common variation on this type of sensor is used for monitoring thin film deposition processes. With the addition of a reference crystal and with thermal control, the sensor can be used for monitoring the outgassing of hardware when subject to vacuum testing.
A vacuum bakeout is performed to accelerate the outgassing of volatile molecules from hardware in a controlled environment, this is done to prevent contamination of highly sensitive flight equipment during operation.
How do we perform vacuum bakeout?
This is achieved by placing equipment into thermal vacuum chamber under high vacuum and at elevated temperatures. The absence of atmospheric pressure and increases in the kinetic energy of particles due to heating in the testing facility, provide the correct conditions for volatile molecules to be emitted from the surface of the equipment.
With AEON’s expertise and one of a kind facility they have been able to design, build and commission their own thermal vacuum chamber dedicated to performing the bakeout process for flight hardware to ECSS standards.
This knowledge and experience means we are able to have greater control over the bakeout process by fine-tuning pressure and temperature profiles throughout, monitoring the rate of change over time, even to the extent of being able to preferentially increase or decrease the heating of equipment in different areas to accommodate especially sensitive equipment.
It is important to note that these volatile molecules are commonly found in both raw materials as well as any applied finish. The exact chemical composition will be dependent of the materials used, and will have different effects if not removed, but generally will have a negative impact on electrical sensors, optics, and cryogenic systems. Ultimately, the thermal vacuum testing process assures that the end-product will function as required.
Interested in learning more about TQCM?
AEON have dedicated a separate article to how the Temperature controlled Quartz Crystal Microbalance (TQCM) works, discussing the length of the process and requirements for such a technical piece of equipment.
Get in touch
For further details on AEON’s bakeout facility or Temperature Controlled Crystal Microbalance systems you can discover more in our brochure.
AEON supply TQCM's for thermal testing facilities, enquire here about purchasing your own.
