Tritium permeation through materials for steam generator systems

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4174319· OSTI ID:4174319

Bell, J T; Strehlow, R A; Redman, J D; Smith, F J; Savage, H C

Mixed isotope techniques and experimental apparatus have been developed for determining the rates of tritium permeation through metals at high temperatures. An inert gas or a controlled steam oxidizing atmosphere on the downstream side of the sample is used so that effects of surface oxidation and the formation of oxide coatings to impede tritium permeation can be determined. The validity of the method was demonstrated by determining the tritium permeability of nickel and comparing the tritium values to established hydrogen and deuterium permeabilities. The methods were applied in a long-term experiment by measuring tritium permeation through Incoloy 800 at 657$sup 0$C with the downstream side of the sample continuously treated with a 750 torr sweep gas of Ar--H$sub 2$O with the H$sub 2$O partial pressure at 240 torr. Oxidation of the metal to form an oxide coating on the metal was accompanied by a decrease in the tritium permeation by a factor of 160 over a period of 84 days. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
• NSA Number: NSA-33-005959
• OSTI ID: 4174319
• Report Number(s): CONF-751101--35
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*INCOLOY 800-- PERMEABILITY
*NICKEL-- PERMEABILITY
*TRITIUM-- DIFFUSION
360104* --Materials--Metals & Alloys--Physical Properties
COATINGS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
N50230* --Metals
Ceramics
& Other Materials--Metals & Alloys--Properties
Structure & Phase Studies
N70800 --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research--Thermonuclear Engineering & Equipment
N77900 --Reactors--Reactor Safety & Environmental Aspects
OXIDATION