Corrosion Resistance Enhancement of Pure Zirconium in Various Environments via Microstructure Tailoring

Abstract:

The corrosion properties of pure zirconium (Zr) with different grain sizes in acid, alkali, and salt environments were studied. The microstructures of pure Zr were observed by optical microscope, X-ray diffractometer, and electron backscattered diffraction probe. The corrosion resistance of pure Zr was analyzed by electrochemical corrosion test and immersion test. Results show that pure Zr with grain size of 4–32 μm can be obtained after annealing at 800 °C for different durations, and the relationship between grain size and annealing duration is D³-D₀³=3.35t. The electrochemical corrosion and immersion corrosion test results show that the pure Zr with grain size of about 24 μm (annealing at 800 °C for 20 h) possesses the optimal corrosion resistance.