Isotope effects on the physicochemical properties of zirconium hydride

Abstract

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×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 CaF 2 -type structure(δZrD 2− x ), and the lattice parameter of δZrD 2− x was smaller than that of δZrH The zirconium deuteride had higher elastic moduli than the hydride. The microhardness of the zirconium deuteride was slightly higher than that of hydride. The physicochemical properties of the zirconium deuteride such as Debye 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.