Effect of container preparation on the growth of protium and methane impurities into tritium gas

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.570532· OSTI ID:5371758

Gill, J T

Ten vessels, candidates for the unperturbed storage of analytical calibration gases containing tritium, were investigated. Contamination of 99.7% tritium gas at STP by each container over one year was a function of vessel material and surface preparation. Cylinders of aluminum and stainless steel (SS) could restrict protium ingrowth better than could hydroxyl-rich borosilicate glass. Canister surfaces with the least surface area also allowed the least protium and methane ingrowth: slower exchange of hydrogen isotopes between material and gas, and less occlusion of organic contaminants are likely causes. Protium ingrowth from bulk metal was successfully inhibited by the thin surface oxide or deformed near-subsurface structure present on dry-paper polished SS; gold ion plating such a vessel was no more effective in minimizing protium. Methane could be nearly excluded from tritium by careful cleaning of container material. Borosilicate glass and dry-paper polished SS appeared more effectively cleaned by solvent washing than did electropolished SS or burnished aluminum. Electrocleaning or oxygen discharging procedures removed hydrocarbons effectively, but led to high protium injection to metal. Careful handling of treated container parts is important. Three to four monolayers of adsorbed organics on a surface can cause observable protium and methane impurity in tritium gas.

• Research Organization: Mound Facility Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
• DOE Contract Number: DE-ACO4-76-DP00053
• OSTI ID: 5371758
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 17:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM
CONTAINERS
SURFACE TREATMENTS
GLASS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
DIFFUSION
IMPURITIES
SOLUBILITY
METHANE
STAINLESS STEELS
ELECTROPOLISHING
OXIDATION
TRITIUM
BORON SILICATES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
ALKANES
ALLOYS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LYSIS
METALS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLISHING
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STEELS
SURFACE FINISHING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
700209* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Component Development & Materials Testing