The absorption of deuterium by cerium-containing binary alloys

A study of the absorption of deuterium gas by a series of binary alloys of cerium, Ce3Co, Cesub(5.3)Co, Cesub(4.5)Ni, and Cesub(8.5)Fe, has been made. Measurements of equilibrium pressures versus concentration were taken at 400 and 5000C for each and in addition the variation of pressure over the range 400-6500C was determined at concentration of D/Ce = 1 and D/Ce = 2 for all systems. The results can be semiquantitatively explained with a model based on compound formation. Heats of reaction of deuterium with the various alloys are: 51.9, -54.2, -55.9, and -64.3 kcal/mole D2 for Cesub(5.3)Co, Cesub(8.5)Fe, Ce3Co, and Cesub(4.5)Ni, respectively. The heat of formation of CeD2 was measured: -45.6 kcal/mole D2. The alloys are evaluated as tritium-getters for possible applications to CTR technology. (Auth.)