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Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: Eleventh International Symposium
ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: Eleventh International Symposium
By
ER Bradley
ER Bradley
1
Sandvik Special Metals Corporation
,
Kennewick, Washington
;
symposium chairman and STP editor
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GP Sabol
GP Sabol
2
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
;
editorial chairman and STP editor
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ISBN-10:
0-8031-2406-6
ISBN:
978-0-8031-2406-6
No. of Pages:
921
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1520/STP1295-EB
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
1996
eBook Chapter

Investigation of In-Pile Grown Corrosion Films on Zirconium-Based Alloys

By
O Gebhardt
O Gebhardt
1
Senior scientists
,
Laboratory for Materials Behavior, Paul Scherrer Institute
,
CH-5232 Villigen,
Switzerland
.
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,
A Hermann
A Hermann
1
Senior scientists
,
Laboratory for Materials Behavior, Paul Scherrer Institute
,
CH-5232 Villigen,
Switzerland
.
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,
G Bart
G Bart
2
Head
,
Laboratory for Materials Behavior, Paul Scherrer Institute
,
CH-5232 Villigen,
Switzerland
.
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,
H Blank
H Blank
1
Senior scientists
,
Laboratory for Materials Behavior, Paul Scherrer Institute
,
CH-5232 Villigen,
Switzerland
.
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,
F Garzarolli
F Garzarolli
3
Deputy director
,
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Joint Technology and Materials Issues, Siemens AG, Power Generation Group (KWU)
,
D-91050 Erlangen,
Germany
.
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,
ILF Ray
ILF Ray
4
Senior scientist
,
EU Institute for Transuranium Elements
,
D-76149 Karlsruhe
, P.O. Box 2340,
Germany
.
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Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1520/STP16175S
Page Count:
24
  • Published:
    1996

In-pile grown corrosion films on different fuel rod claddings (standard Zircaloy-4, extra low tin Zircaloy (ELS), and Zr2.5Nb) have been studied using a variety of experimental techniques. The aim of the investigations was to find out common features and differences between the corrosion layers grown on zirconium alloys having different composition. Methods applied were scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and electrochemical anodization. The morphology and topography of these oxide layers are, in general, of common nature. However, morphological differences have been observed between the specimens that could explain the irradiation enhancement of corrosion of Zircaloy-4. The features of the compact oxide close to the oxide/metal interface have been characterized by electrochemical methods. The relationship between the thickness of this protective oxide and the overall oxide thickness has been investigated by EIS. It was found that this relation is dependent on the location of the oxide along the fuel rod and on the corrosion rate.

Keywords:
zirconium-based alloys, corrosion films, pressurized water reactors, electron microscopy, impedance spectroscopy

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