Secondary ion mass spectrometry and Auger electron spectroscopy investigations of Vb metal foils prepared for hydrogen permeation measurements

Abstract

Surface corrosion layers on vanadium, niobium and tantalum foils are shown to prevent almost entirely the hydrogen interphase transfer into the metal at normal temperatures. These layers have been removed by outgassing the foils in ultrahigh vacuum at high temperatures, and their rebuilding in the atmosphere has been prevented by coating the clean surfaces with a vapor-deposited thin film of Pd, permeable only to hydrogen. The techniques of secondary ion mass spectrometry and Auger electron spectroscopy have been used to obtain information on the composition and thickness of these surface layers and on the sucess of the above mentioned purification and protective technique.