SEDL / STP / STP1423-EB / STP11381S

Physical Phenomena Concerning Corrosion Under Irradiation of Zr Alloys

Lemaignan, C
CEA Grenoble, Grenoble,

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 2002

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Abstract

The phenomena involved in the corrosion enhancement of Zr alloys under irradiation are analyzed. Among the basic mechanisms concerned, some are related to changes in microstructure of the alloy due to irradiation (precipitate evolution under irradiation and amorphous transformation), others to the transformation of the oxide layer (ZrO²) induced by neutron damage (irradiation-induced phase transformation of the zirconia). The effect of water chemistry and of the ionizing γ photons on the insulating zirconia will also be discussed.