Abstract
Two varieties of Zircaloy-2, with different second phase particle (SPP) size distributions and different corrosion resistance, were oxidized in a steam autoclave. Transmission electron microscopy was used for investigation of the fine-scale lateral cracks present in the oxide scales. Crack quantification was performed and the number of cracks was correlated with the number of SPPs. A mechanism for crack formation is presented, in which the driving force is the local tensile stresses in the oxide close to the oxide/metal interface, and the initiation sites are un-oxidized SPPs located within this stress field.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 64-71 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
| Volume | 430 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
Sandvik Materials Technology is thanked for supplying the materials and performing the autoclave testing. This work was carried out with the support of Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, Sandvik AB, Vattenfall Nuclear Fuel AB, OKG AB and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.