SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1974
STP32137S

Effect of Surface Treatment on the Irradiation Enhancement of Corrosion of Zircaloy-2 in HBWR

Source

Specimens of Zircaloy-2 have been exposed at 240°C (464°F) in various locations in the primary circuit of the Halden Boiling Water Reactor (HBWR). Corrosion data have also been collected from Zircaloy-2 clad fuel elements. The radiation field caused a drastic enhancement of the attack, corrosion rates increased a hundred times, and was under normal conditions about 0.15 mg/dm2 per day for pickled, anodized, and autoclaved material. Variations in the flux level from 2 × 109 to 3 × 1012 neutrons (n)/cm2 ⋅ s (> 1 MeV) had little influence on the corrosion rate, and it is suggested that γ-irradiation or lower energy neutrons, rather than fast neutrons, can be responsible for the corrosion enhancement. When uranium was present in the water, the corrosion rate increased for pickled and for autoclaved fuel rods, while hardly any effect was observed with anodized material. A deliberate fluoride contamination on the specimens increased the corrosion rate in-pile as well as out-of-pile. By anodizing this harmful effect of fluorides could be completely counteracted.

Author Information

Lunde, L
Institutt for Atomenergi, Kjeller, Norway
Videm, K
Institutt for Atomenergi, Kjeller, Norway
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Details
Developed by Committee: B10
Pages: 514–526
DOI: 10.1520/STP32137S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4640-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0757-1