Bronze Alloy Development for Zinc Vapor Capture

Abstract

After gamma-emitting 65Zinc was detected in a vacuum pumping system contained in a tritium glovebox, a series of experiments were undertaken to develop a method and material to trap zinc vapors in an area that is more suitable for preventing dose to workers. In this study, bronze alloys with 0–30% tin were prepared using a powder metallurgical process and exposed to three levels of zinc vapors. All of the alloys demonstrated acceptable zinc gettering capacity; however, low tin content bronzes are considered for further testing.