Effect of oxygen content in 400 ℃ super-heated steam on the corrosion resistance of Zr-xSn-0.35Fe-0.15Cr-0.15 Nb alloys

Abstract

Zr-xSn-0.35Fe-0.15Cr-0.15 Nb (x = 1.0, 1.2, wt%) alloys were corroded in deaeration (DE) and 1000 μg/L oxygen (DO) super-heated steam at 400 °C/10.3 MPa to explore the effect of DO content and Sn content on the corrosion resistance of zirconium alloys. Results show that reducing the Sn content from 1.2% to 1.0% inhibits the precipitation of Nb as second phase particles and improves the corrosion resistance of the alloys in DE and DO environments; DO accelerates the corrosion of 1.0Sn and 1.2Sn alloys, however, when Sn content increases from 1.0% to 1.2%, the effect of DO on enhanced corrosion weakens to some extent.