Interaction between nuclear graphite and molten fluoride salts: a synchrotron radiation study of the substitution of graphitic hydrogen by fluoride ion

J Phys Chem A. 2012 Jan 26;116(3):985-9. doi: 10.1021/jp208990y. Epub 2012 Jan 17.

Abstract

The interaction between nuclear graphite and molten fluoride salts (46.5 mol % LiF/11.5 mol % NaF/42 mol % KF) is investigated by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and C K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). It is found that there are a large number of H atoms in IG-110 nuclear graphite, which is attributed to the residual C-H bond after the graphitization process of petroleum coke and pitch binder. The elastic recoil detection analysis indicates that H atoms are uniformly distributed in IG-110 nuclear graphite, in excellent agreement with the XANES results. The XANES results indicate that the immersion in molten fluoride salts at 500 °C led to H atoms in nuclear graphite partly substituted by the fluorine from fluoride salts to form C-F bond. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorides / chemistry*
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Lithium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Potassium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Salts / chemistry
  • Sodium Fluoride / chemistry*
  • Synchrotrons

Substances

  • Ions
  • Lithium Compounds
  • Potassium Compounds
  • Salts
  • lithium fluoride
  • Graphite
  • Hydrogen
  • Sodium Fluoride
  • potassium fluoride
  • Fluorides