What is a Ferrofluid Feedthrough? Plus Industry Application Examples
For readers unfamiliar with ferrofluid feedthroughs, this article answers:
· What are the roles and importance of a ferrofluid feedthrough?
· Types and features of ferrofluid feedthroughs
· Industries and applications of ferrofluid feedthroughs
First, let’s understand the basic concept of a ferrofluid feedthrough.
Roles and Importance of Ferrofluid Feedthroughs
A ferrofluid feedthrough, as the name suggests, is a “sealing device for maintaining vacuum.” Although achieving a perfect vacuum is difficult in reality, industries require technologies to create and maintain near-vacuum conditions.
Technology to Maintain Vacuum
A vacuum is a space where the pressure is below atmospheric pressure. Creating and maintaining a vacuum requires advanced technology, applied in fields like semiconductor manufacturing and vacuum drying. Maintaining a vacuum is crucial in these processes.
Ferrofluid feedthroughs are a key technology for maintaining vacuum. They prevent gas leakage and keep the vacuum stable even when equipment shafts rotate. The appropriate type of ferrofluid feedthrough must be selected based on the application.
To maintain a vacuum, vacuum pumps remove air from the equipment, and vacuum gauges monitor pressure to ensure proper vacuum levels. Maintaining a vacuum is essential for high-quality production.
Roles and Importance of Ferrofluid Feedthroughs
Ferrofluid feedthroughs are indispensable for maintaining vacuum. In high-precision equipment such as semiconductor manufacturing devices, they play critical roles. Main functions include:
High sealing performance (prevent gas/liquid leakage)：The liquid seal isolates the vacuum from the atmosphere, preventing gas leakage, suitable for harsh vacuum environments.
Frictionless design, long lifetime, low maintenance：Non-contact magnetic fluid sealing avoids friction and wear, offering longer life and lower maintenance compared with conventional mechanical seals.
Adaptable to high vacuum environments：Can operate stably in ultra-high vacuum below 10⁻⁶ Pa.
Supports high-speed rotation：The liquid seal design reduces torque loss, maintaining sealing performance under high-speed rotation, suitable for semiconductor equipment.
Cleanroom compatibility：No solid contact prevents particle generation, suitable for cleanroom equipment.
Benefits of Ferrofluid Feedthroughs
Improve product quality: maintain vacuum for high-quality production
Ensure stable equipment operation
Optimize process efficiency
Reduce costs: fewer defective products and maintenance
Improve working environment: prevent harmful leakage, ensure safety
Ferrofluid feedthroughs are widely applied across industries. Selecting suitable materials, shapes, and structures maximizes equipment performance and ensures product quality.
Types and Features of Ferrofluid Feedthroughs
Ferrofluid feedthroughs are broadly categorized into static and dynamic types, with the following characteristics:
Static Seals
Used for sealing between fixed components, such as between two stationary surfaces, often bolted in place.
Static seals operate under relatively low pressure, experience little wear, and have long lifetimes. Material selection is broad, and costs are usually lower. Widely used in vacuum equipment and piping, proper material choice ensures high sealing performance.
Dynamic Seals
Used for sealing between moving parts, such as rotating shafts or reciprocating pistons.
Dynamic seals are more complex in design and application. They must handle friction, wear, temperature changes, and pressure variations, otherwise sealing performance and lifespan may decrease. Material selection and structural design are critical.
Moretec develops, manufactures, and sells dynamic seals using magnetic fluid—magnetic seals—which completely isolate vacuum from atmosphere even under high-speed rotation.
Industries and Application Examples
Ferrofluid feedthroughs are essential in industries that require a maintained vacuum environment, supporting the production of various products.
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Semiconductor production processes are extremely precise. Ferrofluid feedthroughs maintain vacuum within equipment and prevent contamination. Even tiny dust can impact product quality, so sealing performance directly affects production success.
OLED
OLED manufacturing uses sensitive organic materials vulnerable to moisture and oxygen. Maintaining a high vacuum during production is critical. Ferrofluid feedthroughs play an important role, with high-precision manufacturing and specialized materials ensuring sealing. As the OLED market expands, demand for high-performance ferrofluid feedthroughs grows.
In summary, ferrofluid feedthroughs are widely applied across industries, supporting the production of various products.
For Ferrofluid Feedthrough Inquiries, Contact Moretec
Vacuum technology is critical in many industries. Moretec provides high-quality ferrofluid feedthroughs and magnetic seals, based on advanced technology and rich experience. Our integrated process—from equipment design to manufacturing and sales—delivers the optimal solution to meet customer needs.
If you have any ferrofluid feedthrough requirements, consult Moretec. Our feedthroughs are highly sealed, stable, and reliable in various environments. Custom solutions are available, especially magnetic seals, which perform excellently in high-speed rotation with features of “clean, high vacuum, long life.”
We also offer vacuum equipment design consultation. Experienced engineers evaluate customer needs and propose optimal design and manufacturing solutions.
Contact us anytime. Moretec meets diverse customer needs in vacuum technology.
