A METHOD FOR PREVENTION OF INGRESS OF HYDROGEN ISOTOPES AND THEIR REMOVAL FROM COMPONENTS MADE FROM HYDRIDE FORMING METALS AND ALLOYS

摘要

Hydrogen in metals is sometimes a problem because of embrittlement, andmethods are sought to reduce the concentration and ingress of hydrogen.Specifically, byway of an example that is not meant to be limiting, a method is disclosed toreduce therate of ingress of hydrogen isotopes and their subsequent concentrations inzirconium alloypressure tubes in a CANDU reactor where they are joined to a stainless-steelend-fitting, bythe addition of a hydrogen getter to the outboard portion of the end fitting.The hydrogengetter can be any material that has a lower chemical potential for hydrogenthan zirconiumand can be attached to the end fitting so that a free path for hydrogenmovement betweenthe zirconium, steel, and getter is produced. Suitable candidate gettermaterials includezirconium, titanium, niobium, hafnium, vanadium, or yttrium, as metal, metalalloys ormetal composites.