Re: Tritium

[don@radpro.uchicago.edu]

I recall from from my grad student experience trying to design
ultra-high vacuum systems that H2 does indeed diffuse through stainless
steel, and at a sufficient rate to be a problem in the design  of such systems.
I would expect that tritium would also diffuse through SS, but at a rate 
reduced by the mass effect.   Sources on this would be books on high
vaccuum systems design.  A good one I used was called _Vacuum Technology_
___________________________________________________________________
Bibliographic information:
Roth, Alexander.
Vacuum technology / A. Roth. 2d, rev. ed. Amsterdam ; New York :
North-Holland Pub. Co. ; New York : sole distributors for the
U.S.A. and Canada, American Elsevier Pub. Co., 1982.
xiv, 531 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.
Bibliography: p. 464-517.
Includes index.
ISBN: 0-444-86027-4 (Elsevier) :
____________________________________________________________________

If you can't find this, or other suitable reference, let me know
& I'll see what Roth has & fax it to you.

We have not yet tested the gloves that we use for permeability
to tritium, but we find them pretty impermeable to ordinary water.
We use low-modulus nitrile gloves and have found them tougher than
natural latex gloves.  Data supplied by the manufacturer of the brand 
we use, "NDEX"  (TM) by Best Manufacturing, claims that this type
of glove is generally more resistant to a wider variety of chemicals
than just about any other type.  The amount of perspiration that collects
in them during use attests to their low permeability to water.  These
gloves are distributed by Fisher, among others.  It's been a while since
we ordered any (good shelf life also - not destroyed by ozone)  
but I think we paid $10 - $11 per box of 100 gloves.  These are the 4 mil
thick gloves which are similar to ordinary latex & PVC.  The manufacturer
also makes these gloves in 15 & (I think) 30 mil thicknesses.  Two
additional advantages of these gloves are: (1) they are "hypo-allergenic";
and (2) they are incinerable (PVC isn't).  The SAFETY listserver has recently
had a discussion of latex allergies. (SAFETY@uvmvm.uvm.edu)

 


   

   

___________________________________________________________________

Don Jordan                          Tel. (312) 702-6299
Office of Radiation Safety          Fax        702-4008
The University of Chicago           email: don@radpro.uchicago.edu
1101 East 57th Street, Room 11
Chicago, Illinois  60637  
                -- Any opinions are the author's --