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ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 20th International SymposiumAvailable to Purchase
Editor
Suresh K. Yagnik,
Suresh K. Yagnik
Symposium Chairperson and STP Editor
1
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
, Palo Alto, CA,
US
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Michael Preuss
Michael Preuss
Symposium Chair and STP Editor
2;
The University of Manchester Manchester
, GB
Monash University
, Clayton/Melbourne,
AU
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ISBN:
978-0-8031-7737-6
No. of Pages:
928
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
2023
eBook Chapter
The Oxidation of Niobium in the β Phase and Its Impact on the Corrosion of Zr-Nb Alloys under Reactor Conditions Available to Purchase
By
Guanze He
,
Guanze He
1
Dept. of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
, Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PJ,
GB
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Jonathan Hawes
,
Jonathan Hawes
2
NES, LNM Paul Scherrer Institut
, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232
Villigen PSI, CH
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Junliang Liu
,
Junliang Liu
3
Dept. of Materials, University of Oxford
, Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PH,
GB
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Anne Callow
,
Anne Callow
3
Dept. of Materials, University of Oxford
, Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PH,
GB
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Heidi Nordin
,
Heidi Nordin
4
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
, 286 Plant Rd., Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0,
CA
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Sergio Lozano-Perez
,
Sergio Lozano-Perez
3
Dept. of Materials, University of Oxford
, Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PH,
GB
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Sousan Abolhassani
,
Sousan Abolhassani
2
NES, LNM Paul Scherrer Institut
, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232
Villigen PSI, CH
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Chris Grovenor
Chris Grovenor
3
Dept. of Materials, University of Oxford
, Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PH,
GB
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Page Count:
25
-
Published:2023
Citation
He, G, Hawes, J, Liu, J, Callow, A, Nordin, H, Lozano-Perez, S, Abolhassani, S, & Grovenor, C. "The Oxidation of Niobium in the β Phase and Its Impact on the Corrosion of Zr-Nb Alloys under Reactor Conditions." Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 20th International Symposium. Ed. Yagnik, SK, & Preuss, M. 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 : ASTM International, 2023.
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Complementary characterization techniques were used to investigate two commercial Zr-Nb alloys exposed in reactor to understand how the corrosion process is affected by changes in the oxidation state of niobium. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy analysis was carried out to better understand the oxidation state of niobium in the β phase found in dual-phase Zr-2.5Nb and partially recrystallized Zr-2.5Nb alloys irradiated to different damage levels. The different rates of oxidation of niobium in different materials (or samples) are attributed to the manner in which the microstructure of the β phase develops when incorporated into the oxide. Transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography were used to show that most of the original β-Zr phase found in the as-received dual-phase Zr-2.5Nb has decomposed to form β-Nb precipitates at 1.9 dpa and 25.2 dpa, whereas energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results show the β-Zr phase found in partially recrystallized Zr-2.5Nb has not decomposed after three cycles in reactor. The possible cause of these different behaviors of the β-Zr phase is discussed. The rate at which niobium in the β phase is oxidized and released into the surrounding oxide controls the aliovalent niobium composition in solid solution and contributes to the charge-balancing effect. These results can help to explain the measured reduced oxidation rate. Furthermore, the oxidation state of niobium in the β phase is compared with results from a different study by spatially resolved X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy on the oxidation state of niobium in solid solution in low-tin ZIRLO irradiated for three cycles in reactor that shows a similar “delayed oxidation” phenomenon. All of these results are combined to discuss the overall effect of niobium on the in-reactor corrosion rate of the Zr-Nb alloys.
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