Release of Radiogenic Helium-3 from Uranium Tritide

The ³He release from partially loaded uranium tritide samples with varying isotope compositions has been monitored over a 6.7 year period. A normalizing treatment for the ³He released that allows the data to converge to a common trend is discussed. The samples exhibited an early release proportion of ca 5% and an onset of accelerated release at ca 0.24 He/U. It is concluded that ³He is only accumulated within the uranium that reacted during loading and the presence of hydrogen and deuterium influences ³He release.