Apiezon N – Cryogenic Thermal Conductance

Apiezon N – Technical Data Sheet

Apiezon N – Safety Data Sheet

Apiezon N Grease

Apiezon N grease tube

What is Apiezon N grease?

Apiezon N Grease is silicone-free and widely recognised and recommended as the cryogenic vacuum grease of choice. This cryogenic grease is specially formulated to exhibit craze-free performance characteristics at low temperatures and withstand frequent cycling between cryogenic temperatures as low as -273°C and +30°C.

What are the properties of Apiezon N grease?

Apiezon N Grease is a silicone- and halogen-free cryogenic high vacuum grease which:

• can withstand frequent cycling between cryogenic temperatures as low as -273°C and +30°C
• is craze-free at cryogenic temperatures
• has the ability to fill the micropores of adjoining surfaces, so improve thermal contact
• does not suffer from contamination problems associated with silicone based greases such as ‘creep’ or ‘carry over’
• exhibits a vapour pressure of 6 x 10-10 Torr at 20°C
• has powerful ‘gettering’ action, meaning it absorbs potentially harmful grease and chemical impurities on metal and glass surfaces
• is easy to clean, use and remove as it is soluble in hydrocarbon solvents

Available to buy in 25g tubes.

When should Apiezon N grease be used?

Apiezon N grease is the first choice sealant and heat transfer medium for low temperature applications. Being pliable at room temperature but freezing solid at cryogenic temperatures, it allows for easy mounting and removal of sensors or samples without causing damage.

Important in low temperature testing of semiconductor chips, laser diodes and crystals, etc., Apiezon N Grease is used to improve thermal contact between the sample boat and cold finger of a cryotstat. This cryogenic thermal contact grease ensures that samples are at the lowest possible temperatures to improve test sensitivities.

Apiezon N Grease can also be used in a variety of applications at ambient temperatures such as when added cushioning is required. N Grease has a special additive which gives it a tenacious, rubbery consistency which absorbs vibrations in equipment, making N Grease invaluable in fragile glass to glass joints, like burette taps, which continually risk fracture.

To find out more about Apiezon N Grease or the Apiezon family of silicone-free high vacuum greases manufactured by M&I Materials Ltd, contact our team of experts available via our helpline and online.

Apiezon® N is a high molecular weight polymeric additive with a rubbery consistency that is approved by NASA and the US Navy. A special additive component of Apiezon® N gives it the rubbery consistency that allows for a cushioning effect to absorb vibrations in equipment, and makes this grease useful in fragile glass applications. Apiezon® N grease is most recognized for its use in cyrogenic applications as a cryogenic vacuum seal where it has the ability to improve heat transfer at very low temperatures. The ability for Apiezon® N grease to reach cryogenic temperatures quickly, allows it to resist cracking at low temperatures by filling micropores of adjoining surfaces. From this capability, Apiezon® N grease increases area of contact to improve thermal coupling across the entire contact area.

Features
Similar to Apiezon® L, but contact grease contains a high molecular weight polymeric additive
Popular in high vacuum applications and as a general laboratory lubricant (burette taps)
Uses include Coupling of cooling systems to superconducting magnets, cryostats, temperature sensors, systems reaching cryogenic temperatures quickly, superconductor manufacturing applications (due to Apiezon® N’s low level of magnetic susceptibility), cryogenic equipment, MRI magnets, cryostats, and scientific instruments (electron microscopes)
Thermal coupling, sensor mounting, and sample mounting medium
Silicone and halogen free

Removal
Apiezon® N grease has no contamination effect on electrical equipment and is easily removed through use of water, soapy water, hydrocarbon solvents (Limonene, Toluene, Xylene) or chlorinated solvents (Trichloroethylene). When Apiezon® N is removed, it also takes away trace impurities that are not removed by solvents alone.

Research by NASA has shown Apiezon® N to have superior heat-transfer properties across metallic joints (held together by mechanical pressure) at liquid helium temperatures. Though indium foil has a long history and tradition in cryogenic sealing and heat-transfer applications, Apiezon® N, which costs less than one twentieth of indium’s cost, offers a sound alternative on technical and conservation grounds. Indium is not soft enough to fill micropores in surfaces, but Apiezon® N covers evenly and fully at room temperature to give excellent thermal conductivity at cryogenic temperatures.

The specifications charts, taken from NASA’s report, show the value of thermal conductance measured at various cryogenic temperatures. Both sides of the mating pair for each sample were made from the same material: OFHC copper, 6061-T6 aluminum, free-machining brass, or 304 stainless steel.

All contacting surfaces on the sample pairs were lapped to an 0.8-mm finish. Between the contacting surfaces, researchers placed either a thin layer of indium foil (99.9% purity and 0.005″ thick), Apiezon® N grease, a gold-plated washer, gold-plated contact, or nothing. Then a mechanical arm pressed the surfaces together at 8 different forces ranging from 22 to 670N. Measurements of temperature, made with the lower contacts linked to a liquid helium bath held at 1.6K and 4.2K, yielded the results summarized in the various charts.

Apiezon N Cryogenic High Vacuum Grease, Silicone Free, Halogen Free, Hydrocarbon, 25 G Tube

Working Temperature: -269 to 30 degrees Celsius / -452 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit
Vapor Pressure at 20 degrees Celsius: 6 x 10-10 Torr
Relative Density at 20 degrees Celsius: 0.911

Apiezon N Grease is silicone-free and widely recognized and recommended as the cryogenic vacuum grease of choice. This cryogenic grease is specially formulated to exhibit craze-free performance characteristics at low temperatures and withstand frequent cycling between cryogenic temperatures as low as -273 degrees Celsius. Apiezon N Grease is a high vacuum grease which has the ability to fill the micro pores of adjoining surfaces, and improve thermal contact. It does not suffer from contamination problems associated with silicone based greases such as ‘creep’ and ‘carry over’. N Grease exhibits a vapor pressure of 6 x 10-10 Torr at 20 degrees Celsius. It has powerful ‘gettering’ action, meaning it absorbs potentially harmful grease and chemical impurities on metal and glass surfaces. It is also easy to clean, use and remove as it is soluble in hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents. Applications: Apiezon N Grease has the ability to resist cracking at extremely low temperatures which makes it particularly useful as a vacuum seal for cryosystems. N Grease can be relied upon to form and maintain a vacuum seal for long periods, even when subjected to frequent thermal cycling, withstanding cycling between temperatures as extreme as -273 degrees Celsius. Its unique properties mean N Grease is widely used to create reliable vacuum and pressure-tight seals in, amongst others: vacuum lines; Schlenk lines; cold traps; liquid helium hoses and electron microscopes. Other applications include: Thermal Coupling Sensor Mounting Sample Mounting Ambient Temperature Applications

Apiezon N Cryogenic High Vacuum Grease, Silicone & Halogen Free, 25g Tube

Apiezon N

25 gram Tube

When it comes to low-temperature applications, nothing comes close in performance to Apiezon N Grease. The product retains most of its important properties all the way down to -269°C/-452°F/4°K. But this is not all. This lubricant provides solutions to those low-temperature challenges and can be cycled from these low temperatures up to room temperature and then back down without showing visible signs of cracking. And in addition, this grease is completely free of any silicones or halogens.

Typical applications:

Sensor mount within certain low-temperature scientific instruments
Thermal coupling medium within cryostats
Use in just about any cryogenic experiments
Apiezon N grease has a special proprietary additive that reduces (or eliminates) cracking and crazing when the grease is cooled (or even quenched) to the cryogenic temperatures already mentioned above. This helps ensure that as a thermal contact medium, maximum contact between the surfaces is conferred by the grease, ensuring maximum thermal conductance. All these advantages are additional of course, to the primary purpose of the product, that is, to ensure a leak-free seal. Extensive additional technical information is available including vapor pressure vs. temperature data. Apiezon N is also used as an electrical contact grease (lubricant).

Thermal Coupling

Apiezon N Grease has a proven track record in improving thermal contact under cryogenic conditions. This is important for the coupling of cooling systems to superconducting magnets, cryostats, temperature sensors or any system that is required to reach cryogenic temperatures as quickly as possible. Low levels of magnetic susceptibility also make it ideal for superconductor manufacturing applications.

Sensor Mounting

Apiezon N Grease is ideal for use in cryogenic sensor mounting. It is pliable at room temperature and solidifies at cryogenic temperatures to allow for easy mounting and removal of sensors without causing damage.

Sample Mounting

Important in low-temperature testing of semiconductor chips, laser diodes, and crystals, etc., Apiezon N Grease is used to improve thermal contact between the sample boat and cold finger of a cryostat. This cryogenic thermal contact grease ensures that samples are at the lowest possible temperatures to improve test sensitivities.

Ambient Temperature Applications – Added Cushioning

Apiezon N Grease can be used in a variety of applications at ambient temperatures such as when added cushioning is required. N Grease has a special additive which gives it a tenacious, rubbery consistency which absorbs vibrations in equipment, making N Grease invaluable in fragile glass to glass joints, like burette taps, which continually risk fracture.

Apiezon N Cryogenic 4K High Vacuum Grease 5×10-9 Torr at 20°, Silicone & Halogene Free, 25 G Tube

Apiezon N Cryogenic Down to 4 Kelvin High Vacuum Grease With Vapor Pressure of 5×10-9 Torr at 20°C, Silicone & Halogene Free, 25 G Tube

When it comes to low temperature applications, nothing comes close in performance to Apiezon N Grease. The product retains most of its important properties all the way down to -269°C/-452°F/4°K. But this is not all. This innovative new lubricant solution to those low temperature challenges can also be cycled from these low temperatures up to room temperature and then back down without showing visible signs of cracking. And in addition, this grease is completely free of any silicones or halogens.

Apiezon N grease has a special proprietary additive that reduces (or eliminates) cracking and crazing when the grease is cooled (or even quenched) to the cryogenic temperatures already mentioned above. This helps ensure that as a thermal contact medium, maximum contact between the surfaces is conferred by the grease, ensuring maximum thermal conductance. All these advantages are additional of course, to the primary purpose of the product, that is, to ensure a leak free seal. Extensive additional technical information is available including vapor pressure vs. temperature data. Apiezon N is also used as an electrical contact grease (lubricant). These Apiezon N Cryogenic High Vacuum Grease are packaged in a 25 gram tube and are for use with vacuum O-rings and joints used in cryogenic vacuum applications.

Apiezon N Grease 25g

apiezon

Apiezon N Grease 25g

Apiezon N Grease is the cryogenic Vacuum Grease of choice, it’s silicone-free and specially formulated to withstand frequent cycling between cryogenic temperatures as low as -273°C and +30°

Product Description
Apiezon N Grease is the cryogenic Vacuum Grease of choice, it’s silicone-free and halogen-free and specially formulated to show craze-free performance characteristics, withstanding frequent cycling between cryogenic temperatures as low as -273°C and +30°C.

The grease can be relied upon to form and maintain a vacuum seal for long periods, even when subjected to frequent thermal cycling, its unique properties mean N Grease is widely used to create reliable vacuum and pressure-tight seals in, amongst others: electron microscopes, vacuum lines; Schlenk lines; cold traps and liquid helium hoses.

N Grease has a proven track record in improving thermal contact under cryogenic conditions. This is important for the coupling of cooling systems to superconducting magnets, cryostats, temperature sensors or any system that is required to reach cryogenic temperatures as quickly as possible. Low levels of magnetic susceptibility also make it ideal for superconductor manufacturing applications.

Important in low temperature testing of semiconductor chips, laser diodes and crystals, etc., Apiezon N Grease is used to improve thermal contact between the sample boat and cold finger of a cryotstat. This cryogenic thermal contact grease ensures that samples are at the lowest possible temperatures to improve test sensitivities.

Properties:

Withstands cryogenic temperatures as low as -273°C and +30°C
Craze-free at cryogenic temperatures
Abililty to fill the micropores of adjoining surfaces, so improve thermal contact
Does not suffer from contamination problems associated with silicone based greases such as ‘creep’ or ‘carry over’
Vapour pressure of 6 x 10-10 Torr at 20°C
Powerful ‘gettering’ action
Low levels of magnetic susceptibility
Absorbs potentially harmful grease and chemical impurities on metal and glass surfaces
Easy to clean, use and remove and is soluble in hydrocarbon solvents
Resists cracking at extremely low temperatures
Pliable at room temperature and solidifies at Cryogenic temperatures (allows for easy mounting and removal of sensor without causing damage)

Thermal Conductance at liquid Helium temperatures
Work carried out at the NASA – Ames Research Centre at Moffett Field, California, USA in association with Trans Bay Electronics has shown that pressed metallic contacts augmented with Indium Foil or Apiezon N grease show an improvement in terms of thermal conductance ranging from a factor of three for Stainless Steel to one order of magnitude for Copper contacts, over a temperature range of 1.6 – 6.0 °K 1. Further examination of the data produced by this work shows that there are significant advantages in terms of thermal conductance with the use of Apiezon N grease in these contacts over the use of Indium foil or Gold plating. The four graphs below compare the conductance obtained from contacts of Copper, Aluminium, Brass and Stainless Steel, all with 0.8 μm finished surfaces and at an applied force of 670 Newtons. The contacts were made using uncoated metal, Gold plated metal, and with the contacts augmented individually with a Gold plated Aluminium washer, Indium Foil and Apiezon N grease. It can be seen that the use of Apiezon N grease provides greatly improved conductance over the uncoated contacts. Further a significant improvement in thermal conductance over Gold plating and Indium was realised with Apiezon N grease in the case of the Aluminium, Brass and Copper contacts.

Additional information

Brand

Apiezon

Apiezon is a range of high vacuum greases, vacuum sealants and lubricants that are favored around the world because of their quality, consistency and excellent performance in vacuum applications.