Effect of Rare Earth Elements on the Sorption Characteristics of Nanostructured Zr-base Sinter Porous Getter Prepared by Mechanical Alloying

The effect of rare earth (RE) elements, including Ce and La, on the sorption properties of Zr-Co getters was investigated in this work. The phase evolution, microstructural characteristics of getter powders were studied by means of X-ray diffraction method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The nanostructured Zr3Co intermetallic compound has been produced by mechanical alloying of the elemental powder. In all mechanical alloying experiments, the ball to powder weight ratio was 15:1. The phase evolution and microstructural change of powders during mechanical alloying and activation process were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that after an optimum mechanical alloying time (16 h), the amorphous phase was produced. The result showed that after an optimum activation process the synthesized nanostructured powders show enhanced pumping properties and gas sorption response. The studies revealed that Zr–Co–RE can be activated at lower temperature than Zr-Co getters and show better sorption properties.