The isotope effects on the physicochemical properties of zirconium hydride
have been studied. The zirconium deuteride specimens in the form of pellets
(6-mm diameter x 10 mm length) were loaded with deuterium contents with 1.
5-1.7 D/Zr, and were fabricated directly from zirconium metal in a modified
UHV Sieverts apparatus. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that all the
zirconium deuterides prepared exhibited CaF2-type structure(delta ZrD2-x),
and the lattice parameter of delta ZrD2-x was smaller than that of delta Z
rH The zirconium deuteride had higher elastic moduli than the hydride. The
microhardness of the zirconium deuteride was slightly higher than that of h
ydride. The physicochemical properties of the zirconium deuteride such as D
ebye temperature and heat capacity were estimated from the sound velocities
and the thermal expansion data. The Debye temperature and heat capacity of
zirconium deuteride were higher than that of zirconium hydride. (C) 1999 E
lsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.