On the tensile fracture behavior of Cr coating for ATF cladding considering the effect of pre-oxidation

Abstract

In this study, the fracture mechanisms of Cr-coated Zr4 alloy samples were studied by in-situ tensile testing with high-resolution observations. Both original sample and pre-oxidized sample were studied to study the effects of pre-oxidation on the cracking and failure behavior. For the Cr-coated Zr4 sample, with the increase of tensile strain, multiple surface cracks were dominant and less interfacial cracks were formed, indicating good interfacial strength of Cr coating. For the pre-oxidized samples, there was a thin oxide layer formed on the Cr coating surface, revealing improved oxidation resistance and protection effects. However, a brittle ZrCr2 diffusion layer was formed in the same while at the Cr/Zr4 interface underneath the Cr coating, which would lead to earlier micro-cracks formed under tensile stress and evidently degrade the interfacial strength. The findings in the study indicated the importance of optimizing coating microstructure in future study to avoid forming the above-mentioned brittle diffusion interlayer and the associated premature failure.