Abstract
Hydrogen absorption of Zircaloy nuclear fuel cladding, used in light water reactor at nuclear power plants, poses an increased risk of delayed hydride cracking during interim dry storage. Consequently, novel surface technologies aimed at reducing hydrogen absorption have become a critical area of research. Zirconium nitride coatings, renowned for their high hardness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance, have seen widespread application in various industries, including medical devices, cutting tools, and decoration. This study explores the effectiveness of ZrN coating in suppressing hydride formation in Zircaloy-4, a material commonly used for nuclear fuel cladding. In this research, ZrN coatings were deposited onto recrystallized Zircaloy-4 substrates using a hollow cathode discharge ion-plating (HCD-IP) system. The coated and uncoated Zircaloy-4 samples were then subjected to electrochemical and gaseous hydriding processes. The study further investigates the differences in microstructure and hydrogen content of coated and uncoated Zircaloy-4. From these results, it is evident that the ZrN thin film deposited by HCD-IP exhibited great resistance to hydrogen permeation against both hydriding conditions. It is concluded that the ZrN thin films can serve as an excellent hydrogen barrier layer for Zircaloy-4.
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