RADIOLYSIS PRODUCTS OF POLYPHENYL COOLANTS. PART I. IN-PILE LOOP IRRADIATIONS

Technical Report · Fri Mar 30 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4794675

Keen, R T; Baxter, R A; Gercke, R H.J.; Orr, W L

Commercially available polyphenyl materials, of lnterest as potential coolant-moderators for organic moderated reactors, were irradiated in an in-pile loop in the Materials Testing Reactor. The materials studied were biphenyl, two isomeric terphenyl mixtures, and an isomeric mixture of isopropyl biphenyls. The changes in chemical composition of the coolant materials during irradiation and the characterization of the radiolysis products are discussed. Decornposition products were classified into four groups of different volatility ranges: gases, low boilers, intermediate boilers, and high boilers. The high boilers accounted for 85 to 90% of the total decomposition products; therefore this fraction was studied in detail. Investigation of the high boiler fractions by low voltage mass spectrometric analysis, high temperature gas chromatography, molecular weight determinations, and elemental analysis showed: that high boilers change continually during irradiation; that the molecular weight of this fraction continued to increase during irradiation; and that the components with molecular weights above the detection limit of the mass spectrometer (Mass 686) increased to as much as 30 to 40% of the total fraction. lnterpretation of the mass spectral data showed that polyphenyls and triphenylenes (including alkylated derivatives) accounted for 92 to 97% of the high boilers seen'' in the mass spectrometer; and that hydrogenated polyphenyls and phenylphenanthrenes together amounted to less than 6% of the high boilers. The radiolysis products formed can be explained in terms of four simple reactions: polymerization-depolymerization, condensation, hydrogenation-dehydrogenation, and ring rupture. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International. Div. of North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-16-014766
• OSTI ID: 4794675
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR-4355
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AROMATICS
BINDING ENERGY
BOILERS
BOILING
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DECOMPOSITION
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGENATION
IN PILE LOOPS
IRRADIATION
LIQUEFYING
MASS
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MIXING
MTR
OMR
ORGANIC COOLANT
ORGANIC MODERATOR
PHENANTHRENE
PHENYL RADICALS
POLYMERIZATION
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIOLYSIS
REACTORS
VOLATILITY