Publications Details
Comparison of the thermal stability of the codeposited carbon/hydrogen layer to that of the saturated implant layer
This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the thermal stability in air and vacuum of the codeposited carbon/hydrogen layer formed in a carbon-lined fusion reactor. Results are also presented for the stability of the saturated layer formed by the implantation of energetic hydrogen ions into a graphite surface. For both films, the hydrogen isotope release occurs at a much lower temperature in air than it does in vacuum. At temperatures above 600 K, the hydrogen isotope release in air is very rapid and is emitted in a condensible form. It is speculated that isotopic exchange with water present in the air is responsible for this release. In vacuum, temperatures in excess of 1000 K are required to produce a rapid release from either film. The implications of these results to the safety of tritium in carbon-lined fusion reactors are discussed. © 1990.