Hydrocarbon release from graphite and titanium carbide

Measurements of hydrocarbon release from graphite as well as from TiC have been performed as a function of temperature, ion flux and incident energy, using low energy hydrogen and deuterium ions. It has been found that the CH4 desorption from graphite after turning off the ion beam has a longer tail than the desorption of H2 and C2 hydrocarbons, and that the amount of the CH4 desorption increases with temperature, ion flux and incident energy. Contrary to graphite, the CH4 desorption from TiC decays quickly, and the amount of the CH4 desorption is so small that hydrogen atoms are mainly released from TiC in the form of H2. (orig.)