Comparative study of the tritium distribution in metals

Abstract Coupons of stainless steel, Inconel, beryllium, copper and aluminium bronze were exposed to tritium in hydrogen gas mixtures over a wide range of parameters: temperature up to 770 K, pressure from 1 × 10 −4  MPa to 0.05 MPa, tritium concentration from 1 at.% to 98 at.%. The tritium concentration on the surface and distribution through the metals were measured using radiography, radioluminography, β-ray induced X-ray spectroscopy and acid etching methods. The effect of metal processing, such as forging, polishing and heat treatment on the tritium distribution was studied along with parameters relating to the exposure of the metal to tritium.