Prospect of MAO Technology Application in Nuclear Power Industry

Abstract

Micro arc oxidation (MAO) technology known as a newly surface treatment technology has got a widely application in the field of aviation, aerospace, automotive, electronics, and medical industry. Strength, toughness, hardness and corrosion of valve metal such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc, zirconium and their alloys can be greatly improved by MAO technology. This paper tries to probe into the feasibility of using MAO technology in nuclear power industry. Aluminum and its alloys are used as structural materials such as the cladding of reactor fuel and all kinds of pipes in the low nuclear reactor. Zirconium alloys are widely used for the fuel cladding, cannula, catheter and other components of the fuel assemblies. Titanium and its alloys offer a unique combination of desirable mechanical properties which makes them to be the candidate materials for structural application in the field of nuclear energy. The surface of all these materials may be destroyed which increasing the risk of the nuclear accident due to the severe serving conditions. As a result, it is necessary to improve the corrosion and wear resistance behavior. With the urgent requirements of safety and durability of nuclear reactor, MAO technology must have a broad prospect in nuclear industry.