Transport of caesium through a nuclear graphite. part I. Microgravimetric studies and electron probe microanalysis

Abstract

Adsorption of caesium (≈40 mg/g maximum) on a gilsonite graphite at 473 K and subsequent desorption in the range 973–1373 K have been followed in a vacuum microbalance and caesium concentration profiles in the graphites have been measured by electron probe microanalysis at stages in the adsorption-desorption programme. An analysis is developed which enables apparent diffusion coefficients, D, to be determined from desorption rates. Electron probe microanalysis provides evidence for two-phase or multi-phase diffusion of caesium in the graphites during adsorption and desorption and there is evidence that diffusion of caesium is sensitive to the thermal history of graphite. The variation of all reported values of D (m 2/s) with temperature is log D = −6.34 − 5450 T . The limitations of the method of analysis due to nonuniform caesium concentrations, finite surface exit resistance and multi-phase diffusion are also considered.