INTERMETALLIC GENERATORS OF ALKALI-METAL WITH A SEAL

A design of an alkali metal generator with a working substance in the form of intermetallic compound A(n)Me(m) the surface of which is cover ed by a protective layer Me (A - alkali metal, Me - an element, the va pour pressure of which under the deposition temperatures is similar or equal to 10(8) and more times lower than the vapour pressure of the c omponent A) is suggested For this kind of a system a one-dimensional p roblem of diffusion of a volatile component and its evaporation into v acuum is solved. It is shown that, in due course, the evaporation stre am asymptotically approaches a constant value.