[NewCandle] lithium chloride aluminum cavity hydrolysis

[Nick Reiter]

Hi all,

Quick note for the weekend here, to update all on the
most recent run of aluminum foil roll hydrolysis.  The
recipe this time was LiCl in normal distilled water,
no D2O.  Foil roll masses, etc were the same.  LiCl
started out a bit differently, maybe just due to the
surface alloying process.  Whereas NaCl seems to
require a period of time where the surfaces of the Al
become conditioned in some fashion (the "swelling"
phase"), and bubbling hydrolysis takes up to 48 hours
to really kick in, the LiCl seems to dig right in, and
a modest bubbling appears to ensue after only a half
hour or so.  However, the rate of hydrolysis is much
lower - fine bubble streams, that taper off within a
few days.  Much less consumption of the Al, and much
thinner non-contiguous oxide crust formation.  Very
few of the erosion pinholes or craters, and not much
metal embrittlement.

Did the usual thing with EDS, examining samples of
metal and oxide, near and away from pinholes; assuring
spot size is set for a modest count rate to reduce the
Ag - Alx2 overlay.

Spectrum is pretty pristine.  Taking the resolution up
to the point where potential minor elemental anomalies
might be otherwise seen, we don't see much of anything
new... HOWEVER... of all things, a noticeable signal
for B is now seen again in some spots, as well as a
possible Ce signal in the grass.  The last time B (and
vague hints of Ce) showed up was the last time I ran a
combination that DIDN'T have added D2O in it.  NaCl in
normal distilled H2O

Next run up on the plate will be a recipe going the
other way - using KCl instead of NaCl.

On a semi related note - hey Keith, are you still
sending any of that silver nitrate?

best,

n

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