Trapping of deuterium during permeation through gold

Deuterium permeation rate measurements were made on Au foils. Analysis of the results indicates that diffusivities calculated from the permeation rate measurements are dependent on specimen treatment prior to testing and on the maximum temperature attained during the measurements. Diffusivities calculated during rise to steady-state are less than those obtained from the evolution-rate data immediately following steady-state. Diffusivities depend on the point on the rise or evolution curve where the calculation is made. Possible trapping sites for the hydrogen are oxygen atoms present as a substitutional impurity, dislocations, vacancies, or complex vacancy combinations. The effects are sensitive to specimen treatment which should not alter the oxygen content significantly. The dislocation density and vacancy concentrations, however, would be expected to change with the treatments used. Vacancies are believed to be the more likely trapping sites