THE OXIDATION OF GRAPHITE DURING IRRADIATION IN OXYGEN

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4257886

Davidge, P C; Tomlimson, M; Wright, J

The apparatus and procedure are described which were used to measure rapily very low rates of O/sub 2/ evolution from samples of reactor graphite oxidizing at up -1/) in a stream of oxygen in the reactor BEPO. The normal thermal oxidation rate measured outside the reactor, at 300 deg C, by means of the CO/sub 2/ produced was equivalent to 0.59% weight loss per 1000 days, which agrees with past measurements of weight loss at higher temperatures. There were indications that at this temperature the thermal oridation rate was enhanced by about 1 order of magnithde as a result of previous irradiation to about 2 X l0/sup 19/ neut cm/sup -2/, either as a direct consequence of radiation damage to the graphite, or as a sequel to other radiation induced reaction. At lower temperatures, thermal oxidation rates, whether enhanced through previous irradiation or not, were negligible in comparison to radiation induced reactions of a completely different nature. The rates of CO/sub 2/ evolution during irradiation showed a complex dependence upon the oxygen pressure, flow and the volume of the irradiated gas space upstream of the graphite. The results were interpreted in terms of the radiolysis of oxygen to form ozone, partial reversion of ozone to oxygen and the attack of residual ozone on the graphite. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Research Group. Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, England
• NSA Number: NSA-13-018616
• OSTI ID: 4257886
• Report Number(s): AERE-C/R-1450
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BEPO
CARBON OXIDES
GRAPHITE
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS ON MATERIALS
REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
TEMPERATURE