Products Home / Optical Elements / Single-Pass and Multipass Cells / Threaded Empty Stainless Steel Gas CellsThreaded Empty Stainless Steel Gas Cells
- 100 mm Long Empty Stainless Steel Cell for Spectroscopy
- End Caps (Sold Separately) Allow Use of Interchangeable Ø1/2" Windows
- Stainless Steel Construction Provides Increased Heating Uniformity Relative to Glass Cells
TMC510A
Threaded Stainless Steel Cell, One Fill Tube
TMC510C
Threaded Stainless Steel Cell, Two Fill Tubes
GC05
End Cap for Threaded Stainless Steel Cells, Two O-Rings Included
The TMC510A cell mounts firmly in a VBC2 band clamp.
GC05V
Viton® O-Ring
(Pack of 10)
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Click to EnlargeSchematic of Threaded Stainless Steel Cell with Window, Viton®* O-Rings, and End Caps
Click to Enlarge
The spacing between the fill tubes on the TMC510C cell allows for KF25 flange connections on each tube.
Features
- 100 mm Long Stainless Steel Cells for Spectroscopy Applications
- Increased Thermal Conductivity Relative to Glass Cells Leads to More Uniform Heating
- Available with One Tube for Filling or Two Tubes for Flow
- Both Ends Include GL-16 Threading Allowing Installation of Interchangeable Ø1/2" Flat or Wedged Windows
These empty stainless steel cells feature external GL-16 threading at their ends, which allows users to secure Ø1/2" flat or wedged windows (3 mm thick) using a GC05 Threaded End Cap (sold separately), as depicted in the illustration to the right. Once windows are attached, the cell can be filled with atomic vapors or molecular compounds for spectroscopic analysis. A user-provided spectroscopy-grade light source can be matched with the transmission characteristics of the window material. The higher thermal conductivity of the metal cells compared to glass cells enables more uniform heating of samples. We also offer threaded glass cells and empty cells for a variety of spectroscopic applications as shown in the selection guide below.
These threaded stainless steel gas cells are available with either one or two fill tubes. A single fill tube is useful when sealing a cell, while two fill tubes can be used to maintain constant gas flow. The fill tubes have a 0.25" outer diameter and are compatible with Ø1/4" compression fittings, such as those found on our KF16C025 and KF25C025 KF-Flange Adapters. The spacing between the fill tubes on the TMC510C cell allows KF25 flanges to be mounted on each tube without interference as seen in the image to the right. The GC05 end caps have internal SM05 (0.535"-40) threading for compatibility with our Ø1/2" lens tubes and SM05-threaded alignment aids. The GC05 caps and GC05V O-rings limit the clear aperture of the optic to 0.36" (9.1 mm).
Each metal gas cell is made from 316L stainless steel, a rugged material known for its resistance to caustic chemicals. All gas cells on this page can hold a vacuum below
These cells are commonly used in absorption spectroscopy; refer to the Application tab for a general overview of how the cells can be used in this applicaton. We also offer compact and Herriott multipass cells for gas absorption spectroscopy applications, as well as filled and sealed vapor and acetylene reference cells.
Mounting Options
The outer diameter of the threaded stainless steel cells matches the outer diameter of our SM05 lens tubes, allowing for the use of our lens tube mounting options. The TMC510A cell with the end cap removed can slide into a post-mounted SM05RC slip ring. The SM05TC lens clamp can be used to mount the TMC510A and TMC510C cells without removal of the end caps. For integration into cage systems, the TMC510A can be secured in an SM1A60 adapter and attached to any of our 30 mm or 60 mm cage plates that have internal SM1 threads. The cells can also be mounted in our V-Clamp Mounts, which are available in standard, kinematic, or Ø1.5" post-compatible versions. Please check that the cell diameter is supported by the mount. VBC1(/M) or VBC2(/M) band clamps can also be used to mount the stainless steel cells as shown in the image at the top of the page.
*Viton® is a registered trademark of DuPont.
| Single-Pass Cells Selection Guide | ||||||||||
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| Empty Glass Cells with Borosilicate Windows | Empty Glass Cells with Textured Antireflective Windows | Empty Glass Cells with Angled Windows | Empty Glass Cells with Brewster Windows | Empty Alumina Cell with Sapphire Windows | Threaded Empty Glass Cells | Threaded Empty Stainless Steel Cells | Vapor Reference Cells | Acetylene Reference Cells | Glass Cell Heaters | |
Absorption Spectroscopy
The reference substance pumped into the gas cell is associated with a unique absorption spectrum that serves as its fingerprint. The contents of a reference cell can be determined via a linear absorption measurement (as depicted by the simplified schematic below). By scanning a tunable diode laser over a wavelength range and detecting light absorption with a photodetector, a series of peaks will be recorded, which is characteristic of the vapor inside the cell. Please note that we also offer pre-filled and sealed acetylene reference cells, as well as vapor reference cells with quartz or borosilicate substrates.
Creating a Vacuum Seal with a KF Flange
Thorlabs' empty gas cells can be used with our KF16 or KF25 Flanged Components and Accessories in order to manage gas flow in and out of the cell. Gas cells terminated with one or two Ø1/4" (Ø6.35 mm) fill tubes can be inserted into a KF16C025 or KF25C025 flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.
To input the gas cell into a KF16 or KF25 Vacuum System, follow the instructions below.
- Select a KF16 or KF25 flange-to-compression-fitting adapter that is compatible with the fill tube diameter of the gas cell.
- Coat a cleaned and inspected KF16CR-F or KF25CR-F Centering O-Ring in vacuum grease and place it on a base post or pipe.
- Place the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter on top of the KF16CR-F or KF25CR-F Centering O-Ring and secure them with the KF16WNC or KF25WNC Wing Nut Clamp.
- Loosen and remove the knurled locking knob, O-ring, and seal ring of the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter so its mating surface can be inspected and the included O-ring can be coated in vacuum grease. This will create a vacuum seal when the cell is inserted into the system.
- Slide the open end of the gas cell tube through the top (side with the Thorlabs engraving) of the knurled locking knob, seal ring (with the counterbore seat for the O-ring facing the adapter body), and O-ring (in that order) of the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.
- Slide the gas tube into the flange adapter body and then slide the O-ring, seal ring, and knurled locking knob down the tube onto the flange adapter body. Tighten the knurled locking knob by hand.
It is not recommended to insert the gas tube into a fully assembled KF flange-to-compression-fitting adapter. The sharp edges of the tube may damage the O-ring, thus causing the seal to fail.
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Zoom| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | TMC510A | TMC510C |
| Fill Tubes | One | Two |
| Compatible Window Size (Not Included) | Ø1/2", 3.0 mm Thick | |
| Clear Aperturea | Ø0.36" (Ø9.1 mm) | |
| Cell Lengthb | 100.0 mm | |
| Cell Outer Diameter | Ø17.8 mm | |
| Pressure @ 25 °C | <10-7c Torr to 5 psi | |
| Fill Tube Outer Diameter | 0.25" (6.4 mm) | |
| Materials in Contact with Gas Sample | Passivated Stainless Steel (316L), Nickel Alloy (AMS 4777), Viton®a |
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| Diagram (Click to View) |  |
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- Single Fill Tube for Sealing Gas or Two Fill Tubes for Gas Flow
- Stainless Steel Construction Allows for Uniform Heating
- Ø0.70" (Ø17.8 mm) Body with External GL-16 Threading on Each End
These Ø17.8 mm empty stainless steel cells have threaded ends with no windows. Customer-supplied Ø1/2" flat or wedged windows (3 mm thick) can be installed using two GC05 polyether ether ketone (PEEK) end caps, which are sold below.
Zoom- GL-16 Threaded Cap with Two X-Profile O-Rings
- Seats Customer-Supplied Ø1/2" Flat Windows (3 mm Thick)
- Replacement O-Rings Available
Our Ø17.8 mm empty stainless steel cells have threaded ends that can be closed using two GC05 polyether ether ketone (PEEK) end caps, which are designed to hold a Ø1/2" flat window (3 mm thick). The top of each cap is internally SM05 threaded for compatibility with our 1/2" lens tubes and SM05-threaded alignment targets. Each cap includes two Viton® O-Rings with an X-shaped cross section (Dash # 012*), which can also be purchased separately in packs of 10 (Item # GC05V). The vacuum bakeout temperature of the GC05 end caps with Viton O-rings should not exceed 200 °C.
*Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Dash Number as Defined in Standard AS568: Aerospace Size Standard for O-Rings
Threaded Empty Stainless Steel Cells