Vacuum Characterization of a Woven Carbon Fiber Cryosorber in Presence of $H_2$

Some of the cold bores of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will operate at 4.5K. In these elements, the desorbed H2 pressure will rapidly reach the saturated vapour pressure, 3 orders of magnitude larger than the design pressure. Therefore, the use of cryosorbers is mandatory to provide the required pumping capacity and pumping speed. The behaviour of a woven carbon fiber to be potentially used as a cryosorber has been studied under H2 injection. The pumping speed and capacity measured in the range 6 to 30 K are described. Observations made with an electron microscope are shown. A proposed pumping mechanism and the implications for the LHC are discussed.