Stress and Defect Characteristics in Oxide Films and Corrosion Resistance of Zr-1Nb Alloy

Abstract:

Two approaches to testing corrosion in autoclave with different time intervals for heating and cooling were carried out to investigate the corrosion resistance of Zr-1Nb alloy in the 0.01 mol/L LiOH aqueous solution at 360 °C/18.6 MPa, the stress, and defect density in the oxide film. The stress and defect density in oxide film were measured by a curl method and the Ion Migration Method (IMM), respectively. Results showed that the stress level and defect density in the oxide film in the shorter interval corrosion tests were lower than that in the longer interval corrosion tests at the initial stage of corrosion with the weight gain less than 34.37 mg/dm2. The corrosion resistance in the subsequent stages of corrosion was better in the shorter interval corrosion tests. It indicates that at the initial stage of corrosion the weight gain shows no obvious difference between the two approaches of corrosion tests in autoclave under different time intervals for heating and cooling. However, the stress level and defect density in the oxide film exhibit noticeable differences, which leads to two distinct microstructural evolution rates of the oxide film. The distinct microstructural evolution rates cause different corrosion resistance in the subsequent corrosion stages.

Key words:Zirconium alloys; Corrosion; Ion migration method; Defects; Stress