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Title: Decreases in deuterium pumping by St707 getter alloy caused by carbon dioxide preexposure

Journal Article · · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.573020· OSTI ID:5539055

Intentional passivation of the deuterium pumping of the solid getter alloy St707 has been attempted by exposing samples of St707 to carbon dioxide at different pressures, temperatures and exposure times relevant for application to the getter modules in the ALT-I pump limiter. It was found that one of the most effective treatments examined was a 30 min, 1 Torr exposure at approximately 100 /sup 0/C. This preexposure kept the getter pumping speed less than 0.001 of its rated value for about 3 min when exposed to deuterium at 1 Torr and 30 /sup 0/C. After this ''incubation'' period, the getter speed increases to values greater than approx.1% of fully activated values. If left under high deuterium pressure, the getter eventually flakes off the substrate. Video observations of the flaking process indicate that individual particles leave the constantan getter substrate at velocities of 1 m/s. Attempts at passivating the getter using oxygen and carbon monoxide were found to be no more effective than using carbon dioxide, suggesting that there is no way to completely passivate the getter with these gases at pressures low enough for application to in situ getter arrays used in tokamaks.

Research Organization:
Physical Research Division I, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California 94550
OSTI ID:
5539055
Journal Information:
J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Vol. 3:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English