Hydrogen production and stainless steel corrosion during water decomposition under gamma radiation

Abstract

The hydrogen production during radiation-thermal processes of water and stainless steel systems at different temperatures was studied. As a result of the energy transfer of ionizing radiation and the interaction of active intermediates with the initial components, the formation of molecular hydrogen occurred. With an augment in temperature from 300 to 673 K, an increase in hydrogen yield was reported. It has been established that at a temperature of 673 K, a chain mode of transformation of the primary products of stainless steel radiolysis into molecular hydrogen was obtained. The values of G(H2) were 2.50, 3.95, 5.0, 7.11 and 10.5 at 300, 373, 473, 573 and 673 K temperature. On the other hand, these values were 5.11, 9.15, 11.0, 12.5, 16.5 and 25.5 molecules/100eV at 80, 160, 240, 320, 400 and 480 Gy, respectively. At 473 K, an oxidative layer was formed on the surface of stainless steel, while at 523 K, insoluble surface oxidizing products were formed. The main radiation corrosion was observed at T ≥ 573K. At 300–673K temperature ranges, the corrosion rate of stainless steel increased by 4–5 times during radiation-heterogeneous procedures. As a result of these processes, an oxide film was formed on the surface, which prevented further oxidation of the metal. This work is important for hydrogen production and stainless steel corrosion. This paper will be highly useful for hydrogen production and the use of stainless steel in nuclear reactors.