Press Release: DOE SBIR Success Story: HF-Free Electropolishing of Niobium SRF Cavities
Under DOE SBIR funding, Faraday successfully demonstrated a scalable manufacturing technology for electropolishing of niobium superconducting radio frequency cavities, in solutions that do not contain hydrofluoric acid.
High energy physics experiments, such as the International Linear Collider, require very smooth surface finishes on the interior surface of niobium superconducting radio frequency cavities. Traditional electropolishing methods use a chemistry of 9 parts concentrated sulfuric acid and 1 part concentrated hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid, in particular, is extremely aggressive, and human exposures can result in amputation or death. Faraday’s pulse reverse electropolishing uses a solution of dilute sulfuric acid in water, and thus does not present a hazard to the worker.