Materials in cryogenics

Jaroslaw Polinski

European Course in Cryogenics 2010, CERN, Geneva 30.08.2010

Content
• Properties of Solids in Low Temperature
– Specific heat
– Thermal expansion/contraction
– Electrical resistivity
– Thermal conduction
– Mechanical properties
– Vacuum properties

• Materials
– Stainless Steel
– Copper
– Brass and Bronze
– Aluminum alloys
– Indium
– G10, G11
– Special materials
Properties of Solids in Low
Temperature
Specific heat

Specific heat (Heat capacity) defines amount of

heat that has to be introduced /extracted to/from
1kg of material to increase/decrease material
temperature by 1K
c – specific heat, J/(kg.K)
dU Q U – internal energy J/kg
c Q – Heat, J
dT m ˜ 'T m – material mass, kg
T – temperature, K

In cryogenic the specific heat determines an

apparatus cool – down time and cost
Specific heat [1]
Specific heat

• For T>77K – c decreases slowly while below 77K

cฏT3
– Systems cool down faster as they get colder
– At cryogenic temperatures, small heat leaks may
cause large temperature rises, what can cause sample
temperature oscillation
– Helium systems are often pre-cooldown with LN2 to
77K
Thermal expansion/contraction

Thermal constriction defines amount of length

change due to temperature change
1 dL D – Thermal expansion coeeficient, 1/K
D{ L – Lenght, m
L dT T – Temperature, K

Due to thermal expansion coefficient in low

temperatures is strong temperature depended a
total thermal linear expansion 'L/L become very
useful for calculation purpose:
'L LT  L293
{
L L293
Thermal expansion [1]
Thermal expansion/contraction
• When cryogenic apparatus elements are made of
different material, after cool down the apparatus
components can be strongly stressed. Therefore
expansion elements, as compensation bellows, and
special material shapes (U, Z) should be considered in
apparatus design.

• Thermal expansion coefficient is strongly changed down

to 50 K and after is almost temperature independent.
Therefore if cryogenic apparatus survive LN2 cool-down
process lower temperatures should be dangerous

• Direct tight connection of material with high and low

thermal expansion, for example Stainless Steel and Pyrex
Glass, should be avoided.
Electrical resistivity
• Electric charge is transported through metals by so call
„free” electrons

• Parameters determine an electrical resistivity of metals

are:
– N – number of conduction electron per unit volume
– e – charge carried by an electron
– m – mass of an electron
– v – av. velocity of the conduction electrons
– l – av. distance (the mean free path) the electron travels before
being scattered by atomic-lattice perturbation

• Only electron free path l is temperature depended

Electrical resistivity

• At high T electron free path l is dominated by electron

scattering from thermal vibrations (photons) of the
crystal lattice, so is strongly temperature-dependent

• At low T electron free path l is limited mainly by

electron scattering off chemical and physical crystal
lattice imperfections (impurities, vacancies,
interstitials), so scattering at low T is temperature
independent

• An indication of metal purity is realize by determination

of a Residual Resistance Ratio: RRR = U(300 K)/ U(4.2K)
Electrical resistivity [1,2]

Copper
Electrical resistivity [3]

• Amorphous materials and

semiconductors have very
different resistivity
characteristics than metals

• The resistivity of
semiconductors is very non
linear and typically increases
with decreasing T due to
fewer electrons in the
conduction band

• Superconductivity – another
lecture title
Thermal conduction

• Heat is transported through solid by electrons Oe

and phonons (lattice vibration) Op – O= Oe+ Op

• In metals and alloys the electrons heat

conduction is dominated - O0= Oe

• In thermal insulator the photons heat conduction

Op is dominated - O,= Op

• In semiconductors heat conduction is a mixture

of photon and electron conduction - OSC= Oe+ Op
Thermal conduction [4]
Mechanical properties

• Face-centered-cubic (f.c.c) crystal structure metals, such as:

Stainless Steel (304, 310, 316); copper, aluminum, noble materials
(Ag, Au) and alloys (brass), characterize very good mechanical
properties at low and cryogenic temperatures

• Body-centered-cubic (b.c.c) metals, such as: chromium, iron,

molybdenum and nickel steels, are strong at room temperature, but
become brittle at low temperatures (below -50oC)

• Hexagonal-close-packed (h.c.p.) metals, such as: beryllium,

titanium and zinc, have mechanical properties between those of
f.c.c. and b.c.c
Mechanical properties [1]
• Stress =F/A

• Strain ='L/L

• Young’s (elastic) modulus E=

/ y

• Yield strength y – start of

plastic deformation

• Ultimate tensile strength –

commence of necking

• Fracture toughness – material

break
Mechanical properties [1]
Mechanical properties [1]
Mechanical properties [1]
Mechanical properties
• The most common construction materials are metals
with face-centered-cubic (f.c.c) crystal structure

• Mechanical properties of f.c.c structure metals are

improved with temperature decrease

• Usually mechanical calculation of low temperature

elements are performed for room temperature values

• As the base of calculation the Yield Strength y values

are accounted
Vacuum properties

To vacuum pomp
Absorbed and
Free gas molecules dissolved gas

Diffusing gas

Adsorbed gas
Vacuum properties - outgassing
Material Condition After 1 Hour (x10-6)
Aluminum degassed 0,17

Aluminum none 1,3

Copper _ 2,3

Copper, 450 Deg,C None 1,6

Copper, 450 Deg,C degreased, pickled 0,26

Copper, 450 Deg,C degreased 1,4

Silver _ 0,6

Steel, stainless _ 0,2

Steel, stainless none 0,64

Steel, stainless degreased 0,4

Steel, stainless annealed 0,053

Mylar outgassed 0,2

Silicone rubber As received 30

Teflon As received 5

Mylar As received 3
Materials
Stainless Steel

• The most common used construction material in

cryogenic engineering
• Good mechanical properties
• Relatively low thermal conductivity (the lowest
form cryo metal construction materials)
• Low outgasing rate
• Relatively good welding properties
• Used for low therm conductivity parts (sample
insulation, cryostat suports)
Stainless Steel
• 304
– Good corrosion resistance
– Good thermal resistance
– Good low-temperature strength and mechanical properties
– Good drawability such as Deep Drawing, Bending and does not harden
during heat treatment
– Non-magnetic
– Can partially loss non-magnetic properties due to welding, heat
treatment and cool down (austenite partially transforms to martensite
ferromagnetic phase)
• 304L - low carbon 304 steel
– Excellent resistance to inter-granular corrosion after welding and stress
relieving
– Corrosion resistant properties without heat treatment
• 304 LN
– Strength and inter-granular corrosion resistance are improved by adding
N (Nitrogen)
– „more” non - magnetic
Stainless Steel

• 316
– Excellent corrosion resistance
– Good pitting corrosion resistance by adding Mo
– Excellent drawing hardening (non-magnetic).
• 316 L – 316 Low carbon steel type
– 316 steel properties plus excellent inter-granular
corrosion resistance

• 321
– By adding Ti, prevents intra-granular corrosion
Cooper

• Very high thermal conductivity

• High ductility
• High electrical conductivity
• High impact strength
• Diamagnetic
• Good creep resistance
• Ease of welding
• Difficult to connect with Stainless Steel (beam welding,
brazing)
Cooper
• Oxygen-free high thermal conductivity (OFHC) – 99.99%
Cu, RRR > 150

• Oxygen-Free Electronic (OFE) – 99.99%Cu, max 0.0005%

O2, RRR<80

• Oxygen-Free (OF) - 99.95% Cu, 0.001% O2, RRR<40

• Electro Tough-Pitch (ETP) – minimum 99.9% Cu, 0.02% to

0.04% O2, RRR<40
Cooper
• Used for high thermal conductivity parts
• Usually ETP copper is used
– Readily available in different shapes (plates, rods, wire)
– Relatively cheap (much cheaper then OF copper)
– Easier to machine then OF
• If copper is subjected for hydrogen brazing OF copper
should by used
Brass and Bronze
• Brass – mixture of copper and zinc
• Bronze – mixture of copper and tin

• Valve elements (bodies)

• Better mechanical properties than Cu
• Corrosion resist
• Low-friction properties
• Can be used in explosive environment (LH, LO)
• Large thermal conductivity
• Thermal contraction similar as Cu – used for fixing bolts
in SS and Cu elements
Aluminum alloys

• Low density (one-third the weight of steel)

• The best mechanical strength to the mass ratio
• Relatively high thermal conductivity
• Low thermal emissivity (used to cover MLI reflective
sheets)
• Used in many cryogenic applications :inner vessels, heat
exchangers, thermal shields … (see next slide)
Aluminum alloys – cryogenic application [5]
• 1xxx (unalloyed) aluminum - Commercially pure aluminum (1100, with 99.00 percent minimum
aluminum) and special versions of higher purity (e.g., 1350 conductor) are readily weldable, have
high electrical conductivity, and exceptional corrosion/chemical resistance, but relatively low
strength so are used for those applications where the former properties are paramount.
• 2xxx (Al-Cu) alloys - Certain members of the 2xxx series, notably 2219 and 2195, are readily
welded and are stronger than the 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx series, and so are used for critical
applications like space tankage, and vehicles for transportation of cryogenic fluids.
• 3xxx (Al-Mn) alloys - Alloy 3003 has been quite widely used for heat exchangers in cryogenic
service; it has higher strength than 1xxx varieties and is very readily brazed, welded, and
soldered.
• 5xxx (Al-Mg) alloys - The 5xxx alloys offer an exceptional combination of strength, toughness,
corrosion resistance, weldability, and economy of fabrication, and are the most widely used for
critical arctic and cryogenic applications from tankage, bridges, chemical processing equipment.
As a prime example, alloy 5083-O was the alloy selected for the 125-ft (45-m) spheres for
shipboard transportation of liquified natural gas (LNG) around the world.
• 6xxx (Al-Mg-Si) alloys - Exceptional extrudibility combined with high strength, corrosion
resistance, and weldability, has made the 6xxx alloys also among the favorites for arctic and
cryogenic service, often in combination with 5xxx alloys. The ability to economically produce
irregularly shaped extrusions with the metal placed where stresses are highest provides a major
advantage of alloys like 6061 and 6063.
• 7xxx(Al-Zn) alloys - Familiar aircraft alloys like 7050, 7075, 7150, and 7475 have high strength,
but are not weldable by commercial practices and generally exhibit a gradual decrease in
toughness with decrease in temperature; the use of 7xxx alloys is generally discouraged, with
weldable alloy 7005 being the principal exception.
Indium [4]

• Very soft
• Malleable
• Chemically similar to
aluminum
• In cryogenic engineering
used for solid materials
sealing
– After sealing disconnection
indium have to be carefully
removed form connected
surface before reconnection
G10, G11

• Glass cloth laminate impregnated

and cured with a non-brominated
epoxy resin
• Thermal and electrical insulator
• High mechanical strength
• Easy to machine
• High helium diffusion coefficient
• Used for suspensions and supports.
Example of lambda plate
In superfluid helium systems is NED cryostat
used for, so call, lambda plates
Special materials [6]
Vacuum greases

• Improve sealing with O-rings or other rubber seals at

room temperature (over - 20oC)
• Relatively high thermal conductivity
• Low outgassing rate
• Low vapor pressure
• Some vacuum greases, as Apiezon N, are used to improve
thermal contact between solid materials in vacuum
• Apiezon N , especially mixed with Cu powder, is very
common used for temporary temperature sensor
installation on solid surfaces in vacuum space
Special materials [7,8]
Stycast

• Versatile epoxy resin system for

cryogenic use
• Electrically nonconductive
• Relatively high thermal
conductivity
• Used for vacuum tight lead-
throughs
• Alternative to Apiezon N grease
Example of T sensor permanent
when permanent sensor attachment with Stycast
mounting is desired
Special materials [9]

3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesive

DP190

• Two components epoxy resin

• Relatively low thermal conductivity
• Used for vacuum tight lead-throughs
• Used for cold sealing where low
heat transfer is desired
References

1. J. W. Ekin, „Experimental Techniques for Low Temperature

Measurements”, Oxford University Press, (2006)
2. „Handbook of Materials for Superconducting Machinery” (1974)
3. J. G. Weisend II, „Introduction To Cryostat Design”, Short Courses
ICEC 2010 Wroclaw, Poland
4. J. G. Weisend II et. all, „The Handbook Of Cryogenic
Engineering”, Taylor and Francis 1998
5. "Aluminum On Ice": Alloys for Cryogenic Applications.
http://www.secat.net
6. apiezon.com
7. www.lakeshore.com
8. www.meas-spec.com
9. www.3m.com