Graphite surface erosion and blistering

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.568940· OSTI ID:4048487

Feinberg, Benedict

Bulk reactor-grade graphite and WCA graphite cloth were exposed to an atom and ion beam produced in a Hall accelerator. Samples exposed to hydrogen received a total dose of 10²⁰ atoms/cm² of 580-eV mean energy H⁰ and 5x10¹⁸ ions/cm² of 875-eV mean energy H⁺. Samples exposed to helium received a total dose of 10²⁰ atoms/cm² of He⁰ and 5x10¹⁸ ions/cm² of He⁺. During irradiation, the pressure in the sample region was governed by the partial pressure of the source gas (H₂or He) and was at 47 mPa. The samples were then examined with a scanning electron microscope and an optical interference microscope to determine the surface damage. Upon exposure to H⁰ and H⁺, the bulk graphite and the graphite cloth samples showed substantial surface erosion. The amount of erosion was found to be strongly dependent on the sample surface temperature. Upon exposure to He⁺, blistering was observed on the graphite cloth sample. No measurable surface erosion of the samples exposed to He was observed with the scanning electron microscope.

• Research Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-028772
• OSTI ID: 4048487
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 13; ISSN JVSTAL; ISSN 0022-5355
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*GRAPHITE-- SPUTTERING
*THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR WALLS-- SPUTTERING
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ATOMIC BEAMS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EROSION
HELIUM
HELIUM IONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
ION BEAMS
IRRADIATION
RADIATION DOSES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE