Microstructural studies of hydrogen and deuterium in bcc refractory metals

Over the past four years this research has been principally concerned with uncovering the microstructural atomic arrangements in alloys of hydrogen and deuterium with bcc refractory metals. Because these are interstitial phases in which the host metal lattice is substantially deformed by the incorporation of the H(D) atoms, there are pronounced x-ray scattering effects. X-ray diffraction has, therefore, been the main structural tool. A main objective of the project has been to determine the degree to which phase relations and solid solution properties in metal-hydride alloys depend upon the hydrogen-hydrogen interaction via the displacement field of the metal atoms. This has often included the elucidation of subtle thermodynamic properties which are revealed in structural studies