Papers by Keyword: Hydrides

Abstract: Metal hydrides have high hydrogen atom density, which is equivalent to that of liquid water. Fast neutrons are efficiently moderated by hydrogen in metal hydrides. Metal hydrides have been studied for their potential application as nuclear materials in fast reactors (FRs). Two types of the utilizations of metal hydride in FRs are discussed in this paper. One is the utilization for transmutation target of long-lived nuclear wastes. Hydride fuel containing 237Np, 241Am and 243Am has been studied as a candidate transmutation target to reduce the radioactivity of long-lived nuclides included in reprocessed nuclear wastes. An application of the hafnium hydride has been investigated as neutron absorber in FRs. The core design has been performed to examine its characteristics and to evaluate the cost reduction effect. Demonstration of fabrication of hydride pin has been done with hydride pellets and stainless steel cladding. Coating technique of inner cladding surface has been also developed to reduce the permeation of hydrogen through stainless steel cladding. Physical and chemical properties of the pellet have been measured for designing the hydride pin. The integrity of the pellets at high temperature has been tested and their compatibility with sodium has also been tested. Irradiation test of hydrides has been performed in the fast experimental reactor, JOYO, at Japan Atomic Energy Association (JAEA).

Abstract: Hydrogen generated from clean and renewable energy sources has been considered as an alternate fuel to carbon based fossil fuels for several decades. Although many advances in hydrogen production and usage have been made, storing hydrogen remains a significant challenge. Many drawbacks including energy intensive processes, low volumetric densities, and safety concerns are associated with storing hydrogen as pressured or liquefied. Solid state hydrogen storage is considered to be the most promising method as a safe and effective storage option, but there is still no material or method that satisfies the requirements for a practical approach. A feasible hydrogen storage media should address several issues including targeted storage capacities, thermodynamics and hydrogen sorption kinetics, and safety. Nanostructured materials can provide tailor-made properties for storing and releasing hydrogen to fulfill, at least, the partial requirements. This short review, not a comprehensive review of all the materials or technologies in hydrogen storage, summarizes some of the recent developments in application of nanostructures for solid state hydrogen storage; particular attention has been devoted to the most recent development of nanocomposites with tuned dehydrogenation temperatures and kinetics through the control of pore size and surface chemistry.

Abstract: In this study, Zr, Ti and TiC-based cermet specimens were prepared, and their friction and wear properties in various gas atmospheres were examined. The Zr specimens exhibited the lowest friction coefficients and the smallest volume change in the H2 gas atmosphere. This reason would have been due to the formation of the -type Zr hydride, which has a layered crystal structure. The Ti specimens exhibited similar friction and wear properties, although the TiC-based cermet specimens containing small amount of Mo, Ni and W exhibited the lowest friction coefficients in air, not in the H2 gas atmosphere. The low friction coefficients of the cermet specimens in air is likely to have been due to the formation of the low friction Mo oxides and W oxides.

Abstract: Abstract The effects of hydrogen on the hydrogen embrittlement of Ti-2Al-2.5Zr alloy was investigated by tensile test, slow strain rate test (SSRT), and the amount of absorbed hydrogen of Ti-2Al-2.5Zr alloy was studied by immersion test in alkaline steam water at a pressure of 8.5MPa. The results indicated that the hydrides(TiH2) in Ti-2Al-2.5Zr alloy formed as platelets and were identified as face-centered cubic δ-hydride. At room temperature, hydrogen and formed hydrides induced increase of the intensity and caused loss in the ductility. In alkaline steam water at a pressure of 8.5MPa, the hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility index (IHE) of Ti-2Al-2.5Zr alloy increased with increasing hydrogen content, and the IHE value of the alloy with 350ppm H was less than 0.1. Moreover the amount of absorbed hydrogen of Ti-2Al-2.5Zr alloy increased with increasing of immersion time, and absorbed hydrogen was still less than 50ppmH even when immersion time reached 13000h.

Abstract: Temperature dependences of the lattice parameters, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility have been measured for the ErFe2Hx hydrides with different hydrogen content x and for the ErFe2D3.1 deuteride. For the samples with a hydrogen content of about 3.1, structural transition from the cubic to the rhombohedral phase has been observed in the temperature range 280 – 310 K. Small variation of hydrogen content does not shift the transition temperature, but influences the amount of the low-temperature rhombohedral phase. The temperature dependence of magnetization shows up an anomaly in the range of the phase transition, which is due to the difference in the magnitudes of magnetic moments and exchange interactions in two phases. Structural and magnetic studies point to a diffusion nature of the phase transition. Upon heating the samples in vacuum there takes place decomposition of the hydride. The hydride with x = 1.6 which forms at the intermediate stage of decomposition possesses an ordering temperature higher than that for the parent ErFe2 compound.

Abstract: Interest in hydrogen as a future energy carrier in mobile applications has led to a strong increase in research on the structural properties of complex alkali metal and alkaline earth hydrides, with the aim to find structural phases with higher hydrogen densities. This contribution reviews recent work on the structural properties and phase diagrams of these complex hydrides under elevated pressures, an area where rapid progress has been made over the last few years. The materials discussed in greatest detail are LiAlH4, NaAlH4, Li3AlH6, Na3AlH6, LiBH4, NaBH4, and KBH4. All of these have been studied under high pressure by various methods such as X-ray or neutron scattering, Raman spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis or thermal conductivity measurements in order to find information on their structural phase diagrams. Based mainly on experimental studies, preliminary or partial phase diagrams are also given for six of these materials. In addition to this information, data are provided also on experimental results for a number of other complex hydrides, and theoretical predictions of new phases and structures under high pressures are reviewed for several materials not yet studied experimentally under high pressure.

Abstract: The hydrogenation decrepitation process was employed to produce sintered magnets using a mixture of two alloys. The effect of niobium and boron content on the magnetic properties of Pr14FebalCo16BxNby-type sintered magnets was studied. Niobium and boron have a significant effect on the magnetic behavior of these permanent magnets. The optimum amount of boron was 6 at% and niobium should be kept below to 0.50 at%. The squareness factor (0.90) has been improved considerably and good overall magnetic properties (Br=1320 mT, iHc=700 kAm-1 and (BH)max=315 kJm-3) have been achieved for the sintered magnets prepared from the Pr14Fe63.85Co16B6Nb0.15 alloy.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to discuss the morphology (the shape and orientation) of the hydride platelets in the pressure tube material (Zr-2.5%Nb alloy) in function of the modified microstructure by heat treatment.The different microstructures were obtained by annealing and hydrides by hydrogenation (using the electrolytic deposition and the diffusion of the hydrides in the block of samples by a thermal treatment of ageing). The microstructures and hydride morphology were characterised by microscopic analysis, hydrogen content measurements, hydride orientation factor, microhardness Vickers measurements.Based on the results obtained, the increased recrystallization degree involves changes in the hydride distribution. This fact is reflected in the increase of the orientation factor of hydrides and in micro-hardness diminution.

Abstract: Hydrogen storage materials are attracting much attention as media of storing hydrogen. High-pressure synthesis has been widely used for exploration of novel materials. We have reported that many new Mg-based hydrides or alloys have been synthesized by anvil-type apparatus under the pressure of GPa-order. In Mg - TM ( TM = Nb, Ta ) - H systems, it was reported that novel FCC-type hydride which is similar in crystal structure and composition to Mg7TiH13-16 was synthesized under 8 GPa. On the other hand, there is few reports of novel Ca-based hydrides to be synthesized under high pressure. However, the compressibility of calcium is higher than that of magnesium. Thus, there is a tendency for Ca compounds to be synthesized by lower pressure than Mg ones. This study describes the synthesis of new Ca-based hydrides by this high-pressure techniques. In Ca - TM ( TM = Ti, Hf, V, Nb and Ta ) systems, the influence of applied pressure on present phases were investigated. For the composition of CaH2 - 14.3 mol%ZrH2 in Ca - Zr - H system, novel hydride was synthesized at 1073 K for 2 h under 5 GPa. Crystal structure of the novel hydride was found to be FCC-type with a lattice parameter of a = 0.531 nm. In addition, the thermal stability and hydrogen contents of this novel hydride were investigated. In Ca - Hf - H system, the unknown phase was observed in the sample of CaH2 - 12.5 mol%HfH2 prepared 1073 K for 2 h under 5 GPa. This unknown phase is FCC structure with lattice parameter of a = 0.528(2) nm.