Ratio of the Diffusion Coefficients for the Diffusion of Hydrogen and Deuterium in Steel

Abstract

The ratio of the diffusion coefficients for hydrogen and deuterium in steel have been measured in the temperature range of 26°C to 86°C. A mixture of the two gases was introduced into the steel by abrasion in a mixture of normal and heavy water. The diffusion coefficients were measured simultaneously for the two using the mass spectrometer to observe the rate of evolution of the gases from the steel. The ratio of the diffusion coefficients was found to be constant within the limits of experimental error over the entire temperature range and had a value of 1.37±0.02. The ratio of the permeation rates was found to vary with the temperature. The results are compared with those of other investigators.