Characteristics of Al Alloy as a Material for Hydrolysis Reactor of NaBH₄

Aluminum alloy was examined as a material of low weight reactor for hydrolysis of NaBH₄. Aluminum is dissolved with alkali, but there is NaOH as a stabilizer in NaBH₄ solution. To decrease corrosion rate of aluminum, decrease NaOH concentration and this result in loss of NaBH₄ during storage of NaBH₄ solution. Therefore stability of NaBH₄ and corrosion of aluminum should be considered in determining the optimum NaOH concentration. NaBH₄ stability and corrosion rate of aluminum were measured by hydrogen evolution rate. NaBH₄ stability was tested at 20-50 .deg. C and aluminum corrosion was measured at 60-90 .deg. C. The optimum concentration of NaOH was 0.3 wt%, considering both NaBH₄ stability and aluminun corrosion. NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction continued 200min in aluminum No 6061 alloy reactor with 0.3 wt% NaOH at 80-90 .deg. C.