Deuterium permeation measurements for SS316 and F82H steels coated with amorphous silicon carbide films by radio frequency magnetron sputtering were performed. The driving deuterium pressure dependence of the coated sample showed a large surface contribution. Deuterium trapping in the amorphous structure was suggested by the temporal change in the permeation flux. Permeation reduction factors of 103 were achieved with 1.5μm-thick coated F82H at 723 to 823K, but the coating degraded at 873K. Cracks were generated in the coating because of the tensile stress derived from a large difference in the thermal expansion between the coating and the steel.

Deuterium Permeation and Thermal Behaviors of Amorphous Silicon Carbide Coatings on Steels. T.Chikada, A.Suzuki, T.Terai: Fusion Engineering and Design, 2011, 86[9-11], 2192-5