Gas interaction with metal under ultraviolet irradiation

The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the processes of absorption of nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen by steel 40Kh was studied. Gas saturation of the metal was achieved at 1100 deg C. It is shown that ultraviolet radiation practically does not affect the solubility of nitrogen in the metal, accelerates the saturation of the metal with oxygen (from 0.002 to 0.008%), perceptibly increases the hydrogen content in the metal (from 4.5 cm3/100 hr without ultraviolet radiation and to 7.5 cm3/hr with it). Measurements of the electrical properties of a vapour argon mixture showed that ultraviolet radiation causes partial ionization of the gases and photoemission of electrons from the metal. These are the factors promoting gas saturation of the metal