SEDL / STP / STP458-EB / STP43827S

Oxygen Embrittlement of Zirconium-Copper Alloys at High Temperatures

Kaden, W.
Metallurgist and Chief Metallurgist, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Nuclear Laboratories/Materials Development, Erlangen,

Debray, W.
Metallurgist and Chief Metallurgist, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Nuclear Laboratories/Materials Development, Erlangen,

Pages: 5    Published: Jan 1969

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Abstract

Zirconium alloys exposed to temperatures above 450 C in oxygen-containing atmospheres, will be subject to oxygen diffusion from the oxide layer into the metal. An oxygen-enriched zone is formed having a lower ductility than the metal in the initial stage and therefore is suscepticle to cracks. The uptake of oxygen by the metal and the thickness of the oxygen-enriched zone were measured as a function of oxidation time and temperature. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the metal as a function of temperature and oxygen content agreed well with the observation that the formation of cracks stops when the crack end has reached a layer of reduced oxygen concentration and consequently increased ductility.