UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS

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2024-11-22 1:50
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2003 Meeting


Section: Electricity and Biophysics


Title:
Results of EDS Uranium Samples Characterization After Hydrogen Loading


Authors:
D. Chicea(1), J.Dash(2)


Affiliation:
1-Physics Department, University Lucian Blaga, Sibiu, Romania, dan.chicea@ulbsibiu.ro

2-Physics Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., dashj@pdx.edu


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Keywords:


Abstract:
Several experiments of loading Natural uranium foils with hydrogen were done. Electrolysis was used for loading hydrogen into uranium, because it is the most efficient way for H loading. The composition of the surface and near surface of the samples was determined using an Oxford EDS spectrometer on a Scanning Electron Microscope, manufactured by ISI. Images were taken with several magnifications up to 3.4KX. Results reveal that when low current density was used, the surface patterns changed from granules on the surface having a typical size of 2-4 microns to pits under the surface having a typical size under one micron. When high current density was used the surface changed and presented deep fissures. The deep fissures are the result of the mechanical strain induced by the lattice expansion caused by hydrogen absorption. The surface composition was determined before and after hydrogen loading. Uranium, thorium platinum and carbon concentration were measured. Experiments suggest that the amount of thorium increases on the uranium sample with the total electric charge transported through electrolyte. Carbon concentration was found to decrease on the surface of the sample as the total electric charge transported through electrolyte increased. Platinum is used in electrolysis experiment as anode primarily because it does not dissolve in electrolyte and therefore it is not electro-deposited on the cathode surface. The results of the platinum concentration measurements on the surface of the samples we loaded with hydrogen reveal that the platinum concentration increased dramatically as the current density increased and that created platinum spots on the cathode surface. Work is in progress on the subject.