Investigation of the problems associated with the Pt-20 Rh clads of the viking heat sources VF-3 and VF-7

The investigation was undertaken to determine why the emissive coatings of the Viking Heat Sources VF-3 and VF-7 had flaked off the Pt-20 Rh clad material. During the course of the investigation, two additional, unusual phenomena were observed: a surface reaction zone on the uncoated Pt-20 Rh surfaces and grain boundary reactions in the weld zone of the clad. It seems that all three phenomena were the result of a complicated reaction couple that involved the heat source materials, storage container materials, and environment. Vapor transport mechanisms were responsible for the phenomena which were observed. The vapor transport mechanisms were probably initiated because of the impurities that were in both the heat source and storage container materials. The mechanisms resulted in significant changes in these heat sources because vapor transport was allowed to continue in a static environment for an unusually long period of time. (U.S.)