Study of the Isotope Effects in the Hydrogen Transport in Polycrystalline Tungsten

A time-dependent gas-phase isovolumetric desorption technique has been used to evaluate the diffusive transport parameters of hydrogen isotopes in polycrystalline tungsten in the temperatures range 673 to 1073 K and driving pressures from 1.3 104 to 105 Pa. Experiments have been run with both protium and deuterium obtaining their respective transport parameters diffusivity (D), Sieverts’ constant (Ks), the trap site density (Nt) and the trapping activation energy (Et). Isotope effects on these transport parameters are analysed and modelled. Because the classical isotope relation for diffusivity has not been fulfilled, quantum-statistical vibration theory has been applied to model the isotopic relation. A congruent isotopic variation of diffusion parameters related to the type of microstructure, bcc, has been confirmed.