The application to sealed CO₂TEA lasers of platinum catalysts bonded to aluminium-containing ferritic steel

Abstract

A durable platinum catalyst, bonded to an aluminium-containing ferritic steel, Fecralloy, has been applied in a long-lived sealed CO2 TEA laser. Here it recombines gaseous O2 and CO, excess of which limits laser life. An experimental determination has been made of the rates at which Fecralloy-Pt catalysts recombine O2 and CO at low concentrations in the basic laser gas mixtures of CO2, N2 and He at a total pressure of one atmosphere. The O2 and CO removal rates are shown to increase with power into the catalyst but to be relatively independent of both reaction time and partial pressures of O2, CO and CO2. Fecralloy-Pt is active at much lower temperatures than a hot platinum wire. Hence, because of its much reduced power requirements and greater strength, it has considerable advantages in compact, portable, sealed CO2 TEA lasers.