Abstract
Hydrides precipitation has been induced by slow cooling of hydrogen-charged specimens of three different Zircaloy-2 claddings commonly used in boiling water reactors. The resulting hydrides distribution has been analysed by optical and scanning electron microscopy and neutron radiography. With the latter technique, it is possible to quantify radially the hydrogen concentration with a resolution of ±10 wppm and a spatial resolution of 10 µm. Hydrogenated samples were subjected to a temperature of 400°C and afterwards a cooling rate of 0.3°C/h and 10°C/h showed that practically a complete migration of the hydrogen towards the liner-cladding interface took place, leading to very high local hydrogen concentrations exceeding 2000 wppm.
Highlights
Hydrides precipitation has been induced by slow cooling of hydrogen-charged specimens of three different Zircaloy-2 claddings commonly used in boiling water reactors
Hydrogenated samples were subjected to a temperature of 400°C and afterwards a cooling rate of 0.3°C/h and 10°C/h showed that practically a complete migration of the hydrogen towards the liner-cladding interface took place, leading to very high local hydrogen concentrations exceeding 2000 wppm
Zirconium alloys are commonly used as cladding material for nuclear fuels because of their low neutron absorption, good mechanical properties and their remarkable corrosion resistance special under reactor conditions [1,2,3]
Summary
Effect of the inner liner on the hydrogen distribution of zircaloy-2 nuclear fuel claddings. Hydrides precipitation has been induced by slow cooling of hydrogen-charged specimens of three different Zircaloy-2 claddings commonly used in boiling water reactors. Zirconium alloys are commonly used as cladding material for nuclear fuels because of their low neutron absorption, good mechanical properties and their remarkable corrosion resistance special under reactor conditions [1,2,3]. China by pellet-cladding interaction (PCI) [7,8,9] The purpose of this inner layer, called liner, is different to that of an outer liner for claddings that are an option for pressurized water reactors (PWR) and which serve to improve the corrosion resistance. The exact reason for the phenomenon of hydrides precipitation at and in the liner has not yet been understood in all details
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