Tritium migration to the surfaces of Type 316 stainless steel; aluminum 6061; and oxygen-free, high-conductivity copper
- Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States)
The migration of tritium to the surfaces of aluminum 6061, oxygen-free, high-conductivity copper (OFHC), and stainless-steel 316 from the bulk metal was studied using low-pressure Tonks–Langmuir argon plasma. The plasma is shown to be effective at removing tritium from metal surfaces in a controlled manner. Tritium is removed in decreasing quantities with successive plasma exposures, which suggests a depletion of the surface and near-surface tritium inventories. A diffusion model was developed to predict tritium migration from the bulk and its accumulation in the water layers present on the metal surface. The model reproduces the rate of tritium re-growth on the surface for all three metals and can be used to calculate the triton solubility in the water layers present on metal surfaces. The ratio of surface-to-bulk solubilities at the water-layer/bulk-metal interface uniquely determines the concentration ratio between these two media. Removing the tritium-rich water layers induces tritium to migrate from the bulk to the surface. Furthermore, this process is driven by a concentration gradient that develops in the bulk because of the perturbation on the surface.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0001944
- OSTI ID:
- 1255755
- Journal Information:
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 70, Issue 1; ISSN 1536-1055
- Publisher:
- American Nuclear SocietyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Tritium Retention in Hexavalent Chromate-Conversion–Coated Aluminum Alloy
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journal | May 2019 |
Distribution of Tritium in the Near Surface of Type 316 Stainless Steel
|
journal | September 2019 |
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