HR: 1340h
AN: OS43B-0553    [Abstracts]
TI: In Situ Materials Study in Hot Hydrothermal Vent Fluid
AU: * Holland, P M
EM: pholland@thorleaf.com
AF: Thorleaf Research, Inc., 5552 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 United States
AU: Schindele, W J
EM: wschindele@thorleaf.com
AF: Thorleaf Research, Inc., 5552 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 United States
AU: Holland, C E
EM: cholland@thorleaf.com
AF: Thorleaf Research, Inc., 5552 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 United States
AU: Lilley, M D
EM: lilley@ocean.washington.edu
AF: School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 United States
AU: Olson, E J
EM: olson@ocean.washington.edu
AF: School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 United States
AB: We are developing methods and technology for {\it in situ} sampling and analysis of volatiles from hot hydrothermal vent fluids inside the mixing boundary. These fluids can reach temperatures of up to $400\deg$C and are known to be corrosive to most materials. While titanium has been the material of choice for contact with these fluids, we wanted to assess whether other materials, such as Hastelloy or nickel might be suitable for {\it in situ} sampling from hydrothermal vents. For the present study, small (1/16" o.d.) tubes of chemically pure titanium, Hastelloy C, and Nickel 200 were prepared, using 316 stainless steel as a control. These were placed in an assembly with other test items, and inserted into the hydrothermal vent Sully in the Main Endeavor Field on the Juan de Fuca Plate in June 2003 by the Jason II ROV operated from the R/V Thompson. The assembly was retrieved 46 days later after exposure to approximately $360\deg$C hydrothermal vent fluid at a depth of 2200 m. Inspection showed the stainless steel to be completely eroded away and nickel to be extensively corroded, however both the Hastelloy and titanium tubes were in excellent condition with the 0.030" i.d. passages in the tubes remaining open. Other test items included a miniature titanium filtered inlet fitting containing an 80 mesh titanium screen made of 0.004" (0.1 mm) chemically pure titanium wire, an Inconel washer and a sapphire ball. Apart from some discoloration, there appeared to be no significant degradation in these materials apart from signs of etching on the sapphire.
DE: 4832 Hydrothermal systems
DE: 4894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting