STUDIES OF THE HYDRIDE FORMATION MECHANISM IN METALS

A kinetic method is suggested and developed to study the mechanism of hydride formation during the isothermal interaction between a metal and hydrogen and to evaluate the effect of various factors on the course of this process. Elimination of the limiting effects of surface and diffusion processes on the rate of the hydride formation by using atomic hydrogen and metal foil permits direct fixing of the phase formation and evaluation from the kinetic curves (by thermogravimetry) of its hydrogen content. Combined with X-ray phase analysis, the method gives good and reliable results.