The department of Physics submitted a competitive bid exception request for the Machining of an Acrylic Cathode assembly by Reynold Polymer Technologies (RPT), the same supplier that previously provided the acrylic for a related experiment that had very similar thermal and radiopurity requirements.
The collaborators of the experiment purchased the unfinished acrylic material from RPT because of the unique experimental requirements of purity and demonstrated mechanical properties of bonded and machined components that survive cryogenic temperatures. This request is to have RPT bond and machine that acrylic material. To meet these requirements, RPT developed panel bonding procedures that minimize internal stresses in the panels so that they can survive the large temperature change. required. RPT also developed, over the course of several years and in conjunction with physicists from previous collaborations, stringent, demonstrated production protocols that ensure the resulting acrylic has the exceptionally low levels of uranium and thorium required. This is a demonstrated capability that is unique to RPT.
In addition, during this process, the collaboration has already spent significant resources on Quality Control/Inspection of the acrylic as cast, and has fabricated a “mockup” time projection chamber using RPT bonded and cast acrylic.
