Hydrogen permeation resistant barrier

• US 4,314,880 A
• Filed: 02/08/1980
• Issued: 02/09/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: McGuire, Joseph C., Brehm, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cangialosi, Sal
• Application Number:
  US06/119,740
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 176/9, 176/67, 176/82, 176/40, 176/38, 427/192, 148/31.5, 148/6, 148/6.11
• US Class Current: 376/146
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 10/00 Solid state diffusion of only metal elements or silicon into metallic material surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/13 First wall; Blanket; Divertor
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 3/20 with coating on fuel or on inside of casing; with non-active interlayer between casing and active material with multiple casings or multiple active layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A hydrogen permeation resistant barrier is formed by diffusing aluminum into an iron or nickel alloy and forming an intermetallic aluminide layer.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing the diffusion of hydrogen and its isotopes through a metal wall comprising:

diffusing aluminum into said metal wall, forming an intermetallic aluminide barrier coating, and placing said barrier in contact with molten alkali metal containing hydrogen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal is an austenitic, ferritic, or nickel-rich alloy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal wall is a component in a liquid metal fast breeder reactor containing liquid sodium as a coolant, said hydrogen permeation resistant barrier is formed on said wall, and said liquid sodium is in contact with said barrier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal wall is a component in a fusion reactor containing liquid lithium as a coolant, said hydrogen permeation resistant barrier is formed on said wall, and said liquid lithium is in contact with said barrier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen permeation resistant aluminide coating comprises intermetallic compounds of Ni₃ Al, NiAl, or NiAl₂.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen permeation resistant barrier comprises intermetallic compounds of Fe₃ Al, FeAl, or Fe₃ Al₂.

7. A hydrogen diffusion resistant component for a liquid metal fast breeder reactor or a fusion reactor containing molten alkali metal as a coolant, in which said component is subjected to an environment of molten alkali metal and hydrogen, comprising:

a. a metal wall of an austenitic, ferritic, or nickel-rich alloy; and

b. a hydrogen permeation resistant intermetallic aluminide coating of Fe₃ Al, FeAl, Fe₃ Al₂, Ni₃ Al, NiAl, or AiAl₂ formed by the diffusion of aluminum into a surface of said metal wall.