1 High thermal conductivity: No cold spots in the system collecting condensates

2 Easy to form by machining and extrusion

3 Light weight compared to stainless steel

4 Degasses at low temperatures, aluminum systems can be baked out at 150°C for use to 10^-12mbar

5 No magnetism, when fitted with Atlas flanges, the use of very low magnetic permeability 316L ensures that there is close to zero residual permeability for the vessel

6 Low atomic number, good material in radiation environments

7 Low photo-desorption of carbon and water vapour, highly suitable for intense X-ray environments such as storage rings

Stainless Steel: corrosion resistant 316L

Aluminum: UHV grade 6061-T6

Leak Check: 1x 10^-10 mbar-l/s

Bake temperature of flanges: 250°C

Gaskets: standard UHV grade OFE copper

Mechanical strength: Bond is rated at 38,000 PSI tensile and 30,000 PSI shear.

Although Aluminium is an ideal UHV material, it has not been widely used. In the past Aluminium was difficult to seal to stainless steel. Now the unique Atlas bimetal flange allows Aluminium Vacuum Systems to be fitted with conventional Conflat style knife edge flanges. Aluminium as a construction material for UHV systems is made possible by the new Atlas Flange.