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Mirror-Grade Standard – Surface Quality Requirements for Precision Machining of Niobium 53 Titanium 47 Tubes

The surface quality of Niobium53Titanium47 tubes is one of the key thresholds for meeting the requirements of high-end applications. Whether used as coil sleeves in superconducting magnets, fluid lines in medical equipment, or targets for semiconductor coating, extremely high requirements are placed on the surface of Niobium53Titanium47 tubes – scratch-free, oxidation-free, low roughness, and high cleanliness. During precision machining, multiple surface treatment processes are required to achieve mirror-grade surface quality, ensuring the performance and lifespan of the Niobium53Titanium47 tube.

Strict control of surface roughness is the core surface requirement for precision machining of Niobium 53 Titanium 47 tubes. Depending on the application, the surface roughness Ra of Niobium53Titanium47 tubes needs to be controlled between 0.01-0.1 μm. For tubes used in superconducting microwave devices and precision instruments, Ra needs to be below 0.02 μm to achieve a mirror-grade finish. This is because a rough surface increases fluid resistance, generates corona discharge, or affects the uniformity of the coating. During processing, a multi-pass polishing process is required, gradually improving surface smoothness from rough polishing to fine polishing. The rough polishing stage uses diamond wheels to remove machining marks and oxide scale; the fine polishing stage uses alumina or chromium oxide polishing paste, along with a soft polishing wheel, to microscopically refine the surface of the Niobium53Titanium47 tube. Furthermore, during drawing or rolling, high-quality lubricants and dies are required to prevent scratches or adhesion on the tube surface, ensuring surface integrity throughout the processing.

Surface cleanliness and defect-free requirements are another important indicator of the surface quality of Niobium53Titanium47 tubes. As an active metal, Niobium53Titanium47 is prone to oxidation, forming an oxide film. If not removed promptly, this film can affect its weldability, superconductivity, and corrosion resistance. During precision machining, a multi-pass cleaning process is necessary to remove surface oil, impurities, and the oxide film. Before processing, ultrasonic cleaning is used to remove oil and dust from the tube blank surface. During processing, inert gas protection is used to prevent oxidation of the Niobium53Titanium47 tube surface. After processing, the surface oxide film is removed by acid pickling (such as a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid), followed by rinsing with deionized water and finally vacuum drying to ensure surface cleanliness. Furthermore, the Niobium53Titanium47 tube surface must be free of defects such as cracks, scratches, and pits, with defect depth controlled below 0.001 mm. This necessitates the use of online flaw detection technologies, such as eddy current testing or ultrasonic testing, to identify surface defects in real time and ensure product quality.

Precise control of the surface oxide film is a special requirement for the precision machining of Niobium53Titanium47 tubes. In some applications, a dense oxide film needs to be formed on the Niobium53Titanium47 tube surface to improve its corrosion resistance and wear resistance; however, in superconducting applications, all oxide film needs to be removed to ensure superconducting performance. For Niobium53Titanium47 tubes requiring oxide film protection, a dense oxide film of uniform thickness (0.1-1 μm) must be formed on the surface through plasma oxidation or anodic oxidation processes. The composition and structure of the oxide film must be verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). For Niobium53Titanium47 tubes used in superconducting applications, the surface oxygen content must be controlled below 2500 ppm. This is further reduced through vacuum annealing (temperature 800-1000℃, vacuum degree 10⁻⁵ Pa) to ensure zero-resistance superconductivity in the liquid helium temperature range.

Maintaining surface quality stability requires comprehensive process control. The processing environment must be kept clean, with airborne dust particles having a diameter below 0.5 μm to prevent contamination of the Niobium53Titanium47 tube surface. Processing tools must be replaced and polished regularly to ensure a smooth, wear-free surface. During packaging, vacuum packaging or inert gas protective packaging must be used to prevent surface oxidation and contamination during transportation and storage. Through these stringent control measures, Niobium53Titanium47 tubes can meet the surface quality requirements of high-end applications—whether it's superconducting coils used in medical MRI equipment or targets for semiconductor coatings, the mirror-like surface quality ensures that Niobium53Titanium47 tubes perform at their best, making them an indispensable core material in high-end manufacturing.

ALLOYHIT manufactures various Nb53Ti47 and Nb50Ti50 products according to customer requirements.