Polymer system for gettering hydrogen

A system for removing hydrogen and its isotopes from an enclosed space, comprising:

• a) an enclosed space having an atmosphere contained therein;
• and
• b) a hydrogen getter composition contained within said enclosed space, said getter composition comprising at least one of a polymeric compound consisting of units described by the following structural formulas:
• ##STR1## wherein;
• R.sub.1,-R.sub.6 may be the same or different and comprise hydrogen, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl that contain or are substituted with one or more functionalities selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkyne, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 ether, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alcohol, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 ester, phenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 anhydride, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 isocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 ketone, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 epoxide, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 carboxylic acid, wherein at least one of R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond, and wherein the functionalities may be partially reacted together, thereby crosslinking some or all of the polymer compound of formula (I) or formula (II);
• P.sub.1 -P.sub.4 are terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl that contain or are substituted with one or more functionalities selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkyne, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 ether, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alcohol, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 ester, phenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 anhydride, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 isocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 ketone, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 epoxide, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 carboxylic acid;
• and
• n is from 5-10000;
• a hydrogenation catalyst consisting essentially of a noble metal catalyst and an inert catalyst support material, said hydrogenation catalyst distributed throughout said getter composition wherein said double bonds and said noble metal catalyst are in reactive association;
• and
• an inert diluent, said diluent selected from the list consisting of carbon black powders, mineral powders, salts, thixotropic agents and combinations thereof.