HYDROGEN ABSORPTION DESORPTION PROPERTIES OF U2TI

Hydrogen absorption-desorption properties of U2Ti intermetallic compound was examined over the temperature range of 298 to 973 K and at hydrogen pressures below 105 Pa. It absorbs hydrogen up to 7.6 atoms per F.U. (formula unit) by two step reactions and hence each desorption isotherm is separated into two plateau regions. In the first plateau, a newly-found ternary hydride is formed, where the hydrogen concentration, cH, reaches 2.4 H atoms/F.U. In the second plateau, UH3 is formed and cH reaches 7.6 H atoms/F.U. The specimen is disintegrated into fine powder in the second plateau, while in the first plateau the ternary hydride which was identified to be UTi2Hx (x = 4.8 to 6.2) showed high durability against powdering. It is predicted that UTi2 can be suitable material for tritium storage.