Where can I find affordable conductive paste for vacuum environments?

[Strat-O]

For an accelerator application I need some paste that can conduct electricity decently, but will also not outgas under a vacuum and have a cost of under, say, $20 per gram. It doesn't matter if the paste solidifies or remains malleable.

I have thought of copper and silver paste but not sure about their outgassing characteristics.

Thanks!

 

[Mech_Engineer]

What is the paste being used for? Grounding? Shielding?

 

[Strat-O]

It will be applied to an electrode that is energized with RF. The purpose of the paste would be to smooth over the joint because the electrode will be made in pieces and runs the length of the accelerator as in an RFQ linac.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

I'm not sure a paste is your best bet, and I don't know of any vacuum-compatible electrically conductive pastes. Have you considered soldering the joints?

 

[Strat-O]

I'm not sure a paste is your best bet, and I don't know of any vacuum-compatible electrically conductive pastes. Have you considered soldering the joints?

No, but now that you mention it that seems blatantly obvious. Cheap too. Thanks!

 

[RocketSci5KN]

You might also try and find a space compatible conductive epoxy. A lot depends on what conductivity you require and outgassing spec's .vs. temperature.