The Rossi patent application has two x-ray spectrograms. Although they could have been altered, these have been analyzed by comparison with known spectral wavelengths. The elements identified by this method include Ni, Sn, Zn, Cu, Zr, and others. Notably, no chromium is seen.
Copper with tin is bronze, copper with zinc is brass. This indicates that the containment is a copper alloy and probably a mix of bronze and brass. They are compatible. The Zr is probably the dielectric "support" for the nickel in the form of zirconia. Importantly there is no chromium, which leaches out of stainless, as Erin Brockovich fans are aware - and if the containment was stainless steel, then there should be chromium lines. I would go so far as to say that since there are no lines (and assuming that the spectrograms have not been altered) then stainless steel is NOT used in this reactor at all, despite the indications from Rossi himself. He simply cannot be trusted. His double-talk clearly indicates that he does not want anyone to find out his secret, which IMO has to do with copper alloying with nickel on its surface in perhaps a few atoms thickness - perhaps inadvertently. This process would form a superior spillover catalyst which is far better than palladium at a tiny fraction of the cost. Google: "copper migration" and you will get several million hits - it is a big issue and it does not have to be electromigration, since copper forms a hydride which is mobile and unstable, and would effectively coat everything in a bronze reactor with a thin layer of copper after a few days of use with hydrogen. Further evidence is the heat transfer coefficient - of the two choices. For Copper to Water (steam) this is 1160 (W/m2 K) Whereas for Stainless Steel to Water it is 680 (W/m2 K) That is a huge difference - and since the reaction is controlled by heat transfer, we all agree on that, then copper is the obvious choice for the cold side, at least. Jones
