In the course of experiments conducted
in any vigorous research laboratory , the tungsten-carbide core
of the pressure plate, the piston, piston support block, and the
baseplug support block eventually fail and require replacement.
Spare components will reduce instrument down-time significantly.
Our tungsten carbide is micro-sintered and hot pressed with
a proprietary binder that results in the highest compressive
strength composition that is commercially available. Our grade
of tungsten carbide has been in use since 2003 and exhibits very
long life-times and durability under a broad range of pressure-temperature-time
cycles.
Pressure Plates
Two versions of a spare plate are available: a pressure plate
with core and a pressure plate with core and attached cooling
jackets. The first option requires disassembly and reassembly
of the cooling jackets enclosing the spare pressure plate, whereas
the second option only requires disconnecting and reconnecting
cooling water hoses.
The standard pressure plate [16.5 cm (6.5 in) outer diameter,
is composed of concentric layers of hardened 4340 steel, hardened
tool steel, and tungsten-carbide core with a 13mm inner diameter
bore. Part Number QP-1
The large-volume pressure plate [16.5 cm (6.5 in) outer diameter,
is composed of hardened 4340 steel and a D-2 steel core with
a 19mm inner diameter bore. Part Number QP-5
The ultra high pressure plate [16.5 cm (6.5 in) outer diameter,
is composed concentric layers of hardened 4340 steel, hardened
tool steel, and tunsten-carbide core with a 10mm inner diameter
bore. Part Number QP-8
The pressure-plate cooling-jacket assembly includes
a pressure plate with core that is encased between anodized aluminum
cooling jackets. A stainless steel safety ring shields the outer
diameter of the pressure plate. The assembly comes with fittings
for connection to water chilling/circulation equipment (mininum
Temperature 25°C)
13mm ID Core Part Number QP-2
19mm ID Core Part Number QP-6
10mm ID Core Part Number QP-9
or to cooling fluid chilling/circulation equipment (mininum
temperature -40°C)
13mm ID Core Part Number QP-13
19mm ID Core Part Number QP-14
10mm ID Core Part Number QP-15
Tungsten-carbide base plug support block 25mm diameter, with
outer aluminum sleeve. Suited for standard, large-volume, and
ultra-high pressure plates. Part Number QP-4
Tungsten-carbide piston support block 25mm diameter, with outer
aluminum sleeve. Suited for standard, large-volume, and ultra-high
pressure plates. Part Number QP-12
Custom forming tools allow production of furnace assembly components
that are best fabricated in-house. Salt cells, for example, are
too fragile to ship easily.
The salt plugs and salt sleeves are fabricated in the laboratory
prior to experiments by cold-pressing and then drying in a 750°C
oven. The dies work in the extraction frame of the QUICKpress
or any hydraulic press that generates a 5,000lb (2.2 x 104 N)
force.
The salt cell die works with a mandrel and guide assembly to
form salt cells. The salt cell die determines the outer diameter
of the salt cell, whereas the mandrel andring assembly controls
the inner diameter and thus the thickness of the salt cell. Using
the salt-cell die components of a hardened-steel cylinder die
and piston, a powder funnel, and a mild-steel compression bushing
and extraction stand, salt cells for 10mm, 13mm, and 19mm furnace
assemblies can be fabricated using the QUICKpress extraction
ram or a standard 12-ton hydraulic press.
The mandrel and guide components of the salt-cell die are sized
for high-temperature (>1000°C)-thin walled, and low-temperature
(<1000°C)-thick walled, furnace assemblies and include
a hardened tool-steel mandrel, and hardened alloy-steel support
and guide. High-temperature furnace assemblies require a Pyrex-glass
or quartz-glass sleeve. In order to accommodate the additional
sleeve into the assembly, the salt-cell inner diameter is increased
by using a larger diameter mandrel. At temperatures beflow 1000°C,
the glass insulator is not necessary and the salt cell wall thickness
is greater.
13mm furnace assembly: Part Number SS-1A
19mm furnace assembly: Part Number SS-1C
10mm furnace assembly: Part Number SS-1E
Low-temperature furnace assemblies do not require a glass sleeve.
Consequently, the salt-cell inner diameter is smaller and is
fabricated using a small diameter mandrel.
The salt plug die produces a solid cylindrical salt pieces.
The length of the salt plug is determined by the amount of salt
used during fabrication. The die components required to fabricate
internal salt plugs include a hardened-steel salt plug die, base,
and piston.
To expedite sample capsule preparation, a capsule-lid die has
been designed to form lids for 3mm and 5mm OD tubing. A circle
is punched out of capsule material foil, molded into an open
ended cyliner and arc weled onto sample capsule tubing.
End caps for arc-welded closed sample capsules of 5 mm and
3mm outer diameter capsule tubing are fabricated using a cutting
tool, plexiglass guide, and hardened-steel bottom mold and forming
piston.
Extraction of the 13mm furnace assembly from the standard pressure
plate requires a 9.5mm OD hardened steel piston with stainless
steel safety sleeve and extraction piston bushing. Part Number: EX-1
Extraction of the 19cm furnace assembly from the large volume
pressure plate requires a 13.5mm OD hardened steel piston with
stainless steel safety sleeve and extraction piston bushing. Part Number: EX-2
Extraction of the 10cm furnace assembly from the ultra high
pressure plate requires a 7.1mm OD hardened steel piston with
stainless steel safety sleeve and extraction piston bushing. Part Number: EX-3
