Influence of Surface Modifications on the Adsorption and Absorption of Tritium into Stainless-Steel

LLE Review, Volume 147 150 Introduction High concentrations of tritium develop on stainless-steel (SS) surfaces exposed to a tritium atmosphere.1 These high concentrations are attributed to tritium dissolution within the adsorbed water layers present on all metal surfaces.1–4 Tritium dissolved within these layers contributes $20% to the total inventory absorbed by SS.1 Additionally, these water layers govern the migration of the isotope during an exposure to a tritium atmosphere, as well as during a storage period following the exposure. Because such a large fraction of the tritium inventory resides in the water layers, altering these layers by altering the metal surface can significantly affect the total quantity of tritium absorbed by SS.