Decomposition kinetics study of zirconium hydride by interrupted thermal desorption spectroscopy

Thermal desorption kinetics of zirconium hydride powder were studied using thermogravimetry and simultaneous thermal desorption spectroscopy. The activation energies for observed desorption peaks were estimated according to Kissinger relation. The intermediate phase composition was studied using X-ray diffraction by rapid cooling on different stages of heating. The origins of the peaks were described as the equilibrium hydrogen pressure of a number of consecutive phase regions that decomposition reaction passed through. The zirconium monohydride gamma ZrH was observed for extended periods of time at ambient conditions, which has been supposed to be metastable for a long time. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.