Topic
Zirconium alloy
About: Zirconium alloy is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 6548 publications have been published within this topic receiving 78954 citations. The topic is also known as: zircaloy.
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TL;DR: The conditions for the reaction of zirconium sponge with methylene dichloride and with chlorine in the deposition of ZIRconium carbide-carbon composites have been examined in this paper.
Abstract: The conditions for the reaction of zirconium sponge (a) with methylene dichloride and (b) with chlorine in the deposition of zirconium carbide-carbon composites have been examined. Hydrogen must be present in the process involving methylene dichloride. In the chlorine process deposition is from zirconium tetrachloride, which is continuously generated by reaction of the sponge with chlorine and a hydrocarbon, methane being used in this work. Appreciable deposition of composite occurs above 1000 °C in both processes. The mechanism of deposition is briefly discussed.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the ring tensile test method was optimized to obtain precise data pertaining to the mechanical properties of the prehydrided Zircaloy-4 cladding in the hoop direction.
Abstract: Data pertaining to the mechanical properties of the fuel cladding in the hoop direction are required for the analysis of high burn-up fuel behavior under reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) conditions. In the present study, by minimizing undesirable effects of friction and bending, the ring tensile test method was optimized to obtain precise data pertaining to the mechanical properties of the fuel cladding in the hoop direction. The optimized specimen has a single gauge section and is stretched using the tooling consisting of two half-mandrels. The gauge section is set on top of a half-mandrel; this arrangement is unique in comparison with other methods. Using the optimized test method, the mechanical properties of the prehydrided Zircaloy-4 cladding in the hoop direction were evaluated as functions of hydrogen concentration and test temperature. When the hydrogen concentration is below 500 ppm, the decrease in ductility due to hydriding is relatively small at all test temperatures. When the hydrogen conc...
29 citations
Patent•
13 Nov 1991TL;DR: In this article, the authors described a method for improving the fretting resistance of zirconium alloy components formed into a shape for use in a nuclear reactor, where at least a portion of the outer surface of a component is reacted with material selected from the group consisting of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and combinations of the foregoing at a temperature below about 700 °C to form a wear resistant layer on the surface of the component.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving fretting resistance of zirconium alloy components formed into a shape for use in a nuclear reactor are disclosed in which at least a portion of the outer surface of a component is reacted with material selected from the group consisting of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and combinations of the foregoing at a temperature below about 700 °C to form a wear resistant layer on the surface of the component.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the rate-controlling mechanism that results in the cubic rate law is not directly dependent on the total thickness of the oxide layer, and that similar mechanisms are operative, regardless of material or atmosphere.
Abstract: Zirconium and Zircaloy-2 were found to gain more weight in oxygen than in water vapor at low pressures. The pretransition oxidation kinetics of Zircaloy-2 are comparable with those of pure zirconium, both following a cubic rate law. The pretransition oxidation kinetics of Zircaloy-2 are sensitive to water vapor pressure in the range of 5--25 mm, but are not sensitive to oxygen pressure. The post-transition oxidation kinetics of Zircaloy-2 are notably dependent on the pressure of either gas, indicating a gaseous diffusion rate control. Zirconium exhibited no transition in rate from the cubic over the duration of the exposure. It is shown that the rate-controlling mechanism that results in the cubic rate law is not directly dependent on the total thickness of the oxide layer. Activation energies for the rate-controlling mechanism of the cubic rate law lie in the range 50--63 kcal/mole, indicating that similar mechanisms are operative, regardless of material or atmosphere.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the U-23 at.pct Zr alloy and cladding steels, such as 316, D9, and HT9, were compared and discussed in light of the relative diffusion behavior of the individual elements, intermetallic formation, and experimental diffusion paths.
Abstract: To better understand fuel-cladding compatibility issues as affected by diffusion processes in Argonne National Laboratory’s Integral Fast Reactors, interdiffusion studies were carried out with solid-solid diffusion couples assembled with a U-23 at. pct Zr alloy and cladding steels, such as 316, D9, and HT9. All diffusion couples were annealed at 700 °C and examined metallographically and by scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis for diffusion structure development. The development of diffusion layers in the couples for various cladding steels is compared and discussed in light of the relative diffusion behavior of the individual elements, intermetallic formation, and experimental diffusion paths. In the context of fuel-cladding compatibility, HT9 is considered superior to 316 and D9, as it develops the smallest diffusion zone with the fewest number of phases.
29 citations