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Title: Characterization of tungsten films and their hydrogen permeability

Journal Article · · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4898061· OSTI ID:22318076
;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia)
  2. National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, NILPRP, Magurele, Bucharest 077125 (Romania)
  3. Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva 12, 1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Prediction of tritium migration and its retention within fusion reactors is uncertain due to a significant role of the structural disorder that is formed on the surface layer after plasma exposure. Tungsten films deposited by any of the suitable methods are always disordered and contain a high density of hydrogen traps. Experiments on such films with hydrogen isotopes present a suitable complementary method, which improves the picture of the hydrogen interaction with fusion relevant materials. The authors report on the morphology, composition, and structure of tungsten films deposited by the thermionic vacuum arc method on highly permeable Eurofer substrates. Subsequently, hydrogen permeation studies through these films were carried out in a wide pressure range from 20 to 1000 mbars at 400 °C. The final value of the permeation coefficient for four samples after 24 h at 400 °C was between P = 3.2 × 10{sup −14} mol H{sub 2}/(m s Pa{sup 0.5}) and P = 1.1 × 10{sup −15} mol H{sub 2}/(m s Pa{sup 0.5}). From the time evolution of the permeation flux, it was shown that diffusivity was responsible for the difference in the steady fluxes, as solubility was roughly the same. This is confirmed by XRD data taken on these samples.

OSTI ID:
22318076
Journal Information:
Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films, Vol. 32, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2014 American Vacuum Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0734-2101
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English