Tracer Study on the Decrease of Emission Density of Osmium-Coated Impregnated Cathodes

Abstract
Investigations have been performed on osmium‐coated dispenser cathodes. The dispenser cathode consisted of a tungsten matrix impregnated with barium‐calcium‐aluminate. The coating was supplied by sputtering osmium on top of the tungsten matrix. The origin of the decrease in emission density with life was studied. This decrease is strongly temperature dependent and related to interdiffusion of the osmium and the tungsten substrate, resulting in the formation of a layer of OsW2 during life.

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