Metallurgical Aspects in Cold Fusion Experiments

Deuterium loading of palladium cathodes in Pons-Fleischmann type electrolytic cells has been observed to result in generation of excess heat on several occasions. Metallurgical examination of some of the electrodes showed extensive damage associated with deuterium loading. Surfaces have been found to be covered with large number of impurities. Initiation and sustaining these heat bursts, monitoring of nuclear products and materials aspects of these electrolytic cells have been the focus of our current efforts. As D/Pd loading appear to be critical, the measurement of deuterium loading using dilatometry as a function of current density, surface and heat treatment of the cathode and poisoning are currently being investigated.