| Abstract: | In the Proceedings of the 1982 Tri-Service Cathode Workshop, the authors described studies of the reactivations of tungsten-based dispenser cathodes following poisonings of the kind expected during shelf storage of a microwave tube Appl. Surface Sci. 16 (1983) 73]. Further work on the problems of reactivation following such poisoning is described here. In addition to coated (“M”) and uncoated tungsten matrix cathodes, the tungsten-iridium mixed metal matrix (“MM”) cathode has been studied. In general reproducible results have been obtained from different examples of the same type of “M” and uncoated cathodes. However, although some “MM” cathodes have exhibited good reactivation characteristics, a large variation has been observed between different examples of “MM” cathodes. The composition of the impregnant in the dispenser cathodes has been found to be an important factor in determining the reactivation rate of a cathode. As the barium oxide concentration in the impregnant increases, the cathode will recover faster from a poisoning exposure. Studies of the poisoning caused by combinations of different gases suggest that poisoning will occur if there is a sufficient exposure of a poisoning agent, regardless of the total exposure. The exposures necessary to poison a cathode are so small, that poisoning of the cathode appears probable during shelf storage of a microwave tube. The reactivation results have been summarised in terms of the times and temperatures required to achieve both a given current density and a given degree of reactivation from a poisoned cathode. The studies also indicate that the limiting step during the reactivation process involves the dispensing of fresh material to the cathode surface rather than the desorption or conversion of a poisoned surface layer. |
