Transmission ERD Depth Profiling of Hydrogen in Alpha-Gamma Phase Titanium Hydride

Transmission Elastic Recoil Detection (ERD) was used for profiling hydrogen in α+γ phase titanium hydride. Titanium foils 25 μm thick were electrolytically loaded with hydrogen from aqueous HCl and NaCl to form a heterogeneous layer of α+γ phase titanium hydride on the surface. The foils were cyclically annealed between 250° C and 340° C and quenched at 304° C which resulted in homogenous titanium hydride across the thickness. An empirical formula was determined from the data to predict the uniform hydrogen concentration as a function of loading time during electrolysis. Hydrogen concentrations up to 41 at% can be controlled using this technique. The effects of electrolyte concentration and electric cell current on the initial hydrogen profile are reported. Longer loading times to obtain concentrations greater than 41 at% are also investigated.