Abstract
The Zr-2.5Nb-0.5Mo-0.1Ge alloy were developed for application as fuel cladding material in an advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) with higher burn-up at higher service temperature. Oxidation behaviour of the alloy at high temperature similar to condition related to the operating with Lost of Cooling Accident (LOCA) conditions was investigated. The sample ingot was synthesized in an arc melting furnace followed by hot rolling at 850 °C down to 3 mm of thickness. Each one alloy ingot and one alloy sheet were subjected to the high temperature oxidation test in the Magnetic Suspension Balance (MSB) at 500 °C. Light optical microscope (LIOM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the microstructure of the oxide layer. The Vickers hardness tester was used to evaluate the hardness of the alloy matrix before and after oxidation processes. The results concluded that both samples showed oxidation rate characteristic which follows the parabolic phenomenon. However the hot rolled sample had lower rate. The oxide layer was indicated as ZrO2 .
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