Bakeout is a process by which parts are exposed to heat in a controlled atmosphere to release volatile compounds as a form of cleaning or processing. Reed Blades are baked-out after deposition of contact material to improve bonding with some amount of metal diffusion and also to burn off surface impurities.
Bake-out, in several areas of technology and fabrication, and in building construction, refers to the process of using high heat temperature (heat), and possibly vacuum, to remove volatile compounds from materials and objects before placing them into situations where the slow release of the same volatile compounds would contaminate the contents of a container or vessel, spoil a vacuum, or cause discomfort (odor or irritation) or illness. Bake-out is an artificial acceleration of the process of outgassing.