Trapping of hydrogen isotopes in radiation defects formed in tungsten by neutron and ion irradiations

Abstract

Retention of D in neutron-irradiated W and desorption were examined after plasma exposure at 773K. Deuterium was accumulated at a relatively high concentration up to a large depth of 50–100μm due to the trapping effects of defects uniformly induced in the bulk. A significant D release in a vacuum continued to temperatures⩾1173K because of the small effective diffusion coefficient and the long diffusion distance. Exposure of ion-irradiated W to D2 gas showed a clear correlation between concentrations of trapped and solute D as determined by the trapping–detrapping equilibrium. These observations indicated that the accumulation of tritium in high concentrations is possible even at high temperatures if the concentration of solute tritium is high, and baking at moderate temperatures is ineffective for removal of tritium deeply penetrating into the bulk. Nevertheless, clear enhancement of D release was observed under the presence of solute H.