Tritium and Helium Release from Irradiated Beryllium
Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 28 / Number 3P2 / October 1995 / Pages 1114-1119
Tritium Properties and Interaction with Material / Proceedings of the Fifth Topical Meeting on Tritium Technology In Fission, Fusion, and Isotopic Applications Belgirate, Italy May 28-June 3, 1995 / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A30556
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Tritium and helium release behavior have been measured for Be specimens irradiated at 75°C in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) to a fast neutron fluence of 5×1022 n/cm2. Stepped-isothermal anneal experiments were conducted from room temperature to above the melting point of Be, with the temperature steps varied from one experiment to the other. In-line ion chambers and quadrupole mass spectrometers were used to measure the gases released to an Ar process gas stream flowing across a heated specimen. Gases released from the specimens included H2, 3He, 4He, and tritium as HT and T2. Release of the hydrogenic and tritium gases were observed to be concurrent with the release of helium, providing direct evidence of these gases in microscopic helium bubbles in the irradiated Be. Tritium and helium release kinetics were dependent on the magnitude of the temperature steps between 600°C and 800°C.
