Assessment of Collateral Effects to Tokamak Systems During Planned Air Baking of DIII-D to Simulate ITER Tritium Removal

Thermo-oxidation is a method for removing carbon-based co-deposits and is unique in its ability to remove deuterium from tokamak co-deposits, including tile gaps and shaded areas. This is a possible technique for tritium removal on ITER. In these experiments, we examine the potential collateral (deleterious) effects of a thermo-oxidation experiment planned for DIII-D. Experiments at Toronto have set the process parameters to be 10 Torr air exposure at 250$^{\circ}$ -350$^{\circ}$C for two hours. Components of interest were placed in a vacuum chamber filled with O$_2$ or air and baked at 250$^{\circ}$ and 350$^{\circ}$C. Components were examined for visual or mechanical changes, and when appropriate, mass change. In special cases, optical or electromagnetic diagnostics were performed. Components tested spanned a wide variety of materials and functions, e.g., cryopump components, structural, mechanical and diagnostic components, and fast wave antennae. To date, nearly all DIII-D systems have passed these tests. Detailed results will be presented.