The Diffusion Coefficients for Hydrogen in β-Zirconium

Abstract

The diffusion coefficients of hydrogen in β‐zirconium were calculated from experimental hydrogen sorption curves. The results were , (760°–1010°C). This relationship was independent of hydrogen concentrations (to 41 a/o H) and oxygen concentrations (to 4.2 a/o O) in β ‐zirconium. Oxygen in solid solution with zirconium and surface films on the zirconium reduced the rate of hydrogen sorption by zirconium. The effect of oxygen in solid solution with zirconium was observed to be related to the α to β transformation, while the effect of surface films was related to the hydrogen concentration at the film ‐zirconium interface.