ABSORPTION OF DEUTERIUM IN TITANIUM PLATES INDUCED BY ELECTRIC-DISCHARGES

In this work, the absorption of deuterium in titanium plates induced b y electric discharges is studied. The objective was to measure the amo unt of deuterium that is absorbed in the titanium structure under the influence of an electric discharge. The ionization and the free radica ls produced by the electric field act as a promoter to the absorption mechanism. Thus, the absorption can be enhanced by the use of an elect ric discharge. The results indicated that there was a rapid desorption of deuterium at the beginning of the discharge, followed by an additi onal absorption to higher levels than those before the discharge. The additional absorption of deuterium was about 20% of the initial absorp tion. When the titanium was completely saturated with the gas, no addi tional absorption occurred through the electric discharges. As a resul t of the absorption conditions of deuterium in the titanium structure, anomalous emission of neutrons was recorded as tracks in a CR39 type plastic solid-state nuclear-track detector. (C) 1998 International Ass ociation for Hydrogen Energy.