Tritium aging effects in zirconium-cobalt

The effects of tritium aging on ZrCo have been characterized to determine the suitability of ZrCo as a long term tritium storage medium. Four 1 gram ZrCo storage beds were aged for three years with varying amounts of tritium. Equilibrium tritium pressures were found to increase by approximately threefold at a given temperature and composition in the range of 100-300 degree C. At 25 degree C, the pressure increase is predicted to be twenty-fold. Tritium aged ZrCo retains the majority of decay He within the bulk. As this He concentration increases, the rate of helium release increases. Longer term tritium aging may result in a He release rate equal to its production rate from tritium decay. In such a case, the pressure within a sealed storage bed would steadily increase. These tritium aging effects indicate that practical ZrCo storage bed design should include conservative design pressure specifications, to safely contain the maximum possible He pressure. 14 refs., 6 figs