HTO Contamination on Polymeric Materials

We have tested typical polymeric materials related to the water detritiation system to evaluate their contamination by tritiated moisture and water. The polymeric samples were exposed to 740-1110 Bq/cm³-gas of tritiated moisture with a 1kPa of H₂O pressure at a temperature ranged 288 to 298K for various times up to 70 weeks. The other polymeric samples were immersed directly in 70000 Bq/cm³-liquid of tritiated water at a temperature ranged 288 to 298K for various times up to 52 weeks. After the test samples were exposed, the concentrations of tritiated water absorbed in the sample were evaluated by static leaching method. The exposure time to HTO moisture affected negligibly the concentrations of HTO absorbed in the samples. The immersion time in liquid HTO in contrast affected strongly the concentrations of HTO absorbed in the samples, due to penetration of HTO. Appropriate polymeric materials were clarified in the light of HTO contamination.