Enhanced barrier for liquid metal bearings

An X-ray tube comprising:

• a stationary member;
• a rotary member configured to rotate with respect to the stationary member during operation of the X-ray tube;
• a liquid metal bearing material disposed in a space between the stationary member and the rotary member;
• a first seal disposed adjacent to a first end of the space to seal the liquid metal bearing material in the space;
• a second seal disposed adjacent to a second end of the space to seal the liquid metal bearing material in the space;
• a first ring disposed adjacent to the first seal and made of a first enhanced surface area material to trap within the first ring liquid metal bearing material that escapes the first seal, wherein the first ring is physically separate from the first seal;
• and
• a second ring disposed adjacent to the second seal and made of a second enhanced surface area material to trap within the second ring liquid metal bearing material that escapes the second seal, wherein the second ring is physically separate from the second seal.

A method for making an X-ray tube, comprising:

• disposing a sleeve about a shaft;
• disposing a liquid metal bearing material in a space between the sleeve and the shaft;
• disposing a first seal adjacent to at least one end of the space to seal the liquid metal bearing material in the space;
• and
• disposing a first structure comprising a first enhanced surface area material adjacent to the first seal to trap within the first enhanced surface area material liquid metal bearing material that escapes the first seal, wherein the first structure is physically separate from the first seal.