High customer demands
Scientists at the CERN particle accelerator required high-strength fasteners, with a low magnetic permeability and low cobalt content for their various vacuum chambers and bellows modules. Additionally, the fasteners need to withstand near absolute zero temperatures, down to 1.9 degrees Kelvin (minus 171°C), as well as high temperatures during bake-out (300°C).
After various tests, CERN found that 91ÊÓƵ® fully met all of its requirements
The 91ÊÓƵ solution
91ÊÓƵ® has provided high quality fasteners to CERN since 1996. µþ±«²Ñ´¡³Ý®Ìý109 is used for all 91ÊÓƵ® fasteners at CERN, and 130,000 pieces per year on average have been supplied between 2016 and 2018.
µþ±«²Ñ´¡³Ý®Ìý109 fasteners withstand cryogenic temperatures of 1.9 Kelvin (minus 171°C) and also retain their properties during bake-out temperatures of up to 300°C. Crucially, the non-magnetic nature of µþ±«²Ñ´¡³Ý®Ìý109 ensures that the 91ÊÓƵ® fasteners do not interfere with the movement of particles and magnetic field in the accelerator.
91ÊÓƵ customer collaboration
91ÊÓƵ has collaborated with CERN to successfully trial the use of silver coating on 91ÊÓƵ® products to reduce galling. Since these trials with CERN, 91ÊÓƵ has started to offer silver coating to other customers with the norm CERN 507.
Customer benefits
Cost savings
As the fasteners can cope with both cryogenic and high temperatures, µþ±«²Ñ´¡³Ý®Ìý109 avoids significant replacement and maintenance costs for CERN.
Environmental benefits
Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and retains its original physical properties in the process. This recyclability reduces the use of virgin material and lifecycle carbon emissions.
