HIGH TEMPERATURE RADIATION DAMAGE TO GRAPHITE. PART II. RADIATION DAMAGE IN GRAPHITE.

The radiation-induced decomposition of CH/sub 4/ a form H/sub 2/ and carbon was measured in capsules filled with H/sub 2/--CH/sub 4/ mixtures. In some of the capsules with this mixture, trace amounts of C/sub 2/H/sub 6/ and C/sub 3/H/sub 8/ were formed. Gamma irradiations of H/sub 2/-CH/sub 4/ mixtures to a total dose of 9.88 x 10/ sup 8/ r produced very small changes in the gas composition. In capsules containing H/sub 2/ -- CO mixtures at total pressures ranging from 1 to 25 atm, the yield ( approximates 40 per cent) of CH/sub 4/ and CO/sub 2/ was good for the high exposure in these experiments. In only one of the four capsules filled with N/sub 2/ was any C/sub 2/N/sub 2/ detected in the gas phase; however, small amounts of a solid, believed to be paracyanogen, were found on the walls of the four capsules. (auth)