Influence of the storage time of tritium titanium target on its damage characteristics in a D-T neutron generator

Abstract:

Tritium titanium target is an important assembly used in a D-T type neutron generator, and the problem is the coexistence of the decayed helium and hydrogen isotope is inevitable in tritium-contained materials, and the stability of the tritium titanium target is influenced by the inner evolution of helium bubbles. It is therefore of essence to study the effect of ion irradiations on the lifetime of tritium titanium targets with a long storage time in a neutron generator. Both surface morphologies, surface element types and surface phase structures were measured for the original or irradiated tritide targets. Results reflected that Mo and Ti were the main elements remained on the irradiated surface, and hardly any trace of Ti or TiT_x could be detected on the surface. It finally arrived that after a storage time of nearly 12 years, the main part of the tritide film were striped by inner evolved helium bubbles.

Key words:tritide titanium target; Phase structure; Surface morphology; Neutron generator; Irradiation effect