4 ms·
One thing about gallium/galinstan - it would actually make a descent high vacuum seal as it has lowest vapor pressure of all elements - so it doesn't evaporate.
by tliltocatl 4mo ago
One thing about gallium/galinstan - it would actually make a descent high vacuum seal as it has lowest vapor pressure of all elements - so it doesn't evaporate. The problem is that it sticks to just about everything that isn't PE/PTFE. Galinstan thermometers use some proprietary coating to make glass repel it.
I was once entertaining the idea of using gallium for an electrostatically or MHD boosted Sprengel pump, but figured out sticking would make it infeasible. And now it's unobitanium too.
- fuzzfactor 4mo agoPure galium has such a low melting point that it liquefies and acts like mercury if you hold a few grams in your hand. Probably non-ideal for vacuum tubes which do run a lot hotter than most other components.
- tliltocatl 4mo agoJust keep it liquid, that's the point. If it freezes, it bursts the glass, as the OOP says.