Transmission electron microscopy examination of oxide layers formed on Zr alloys

Aylin Yilmazbayhan, Else Breval, Arthur T. Motta, Robert J. Comstock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

264 Scopus citations

Abstract

A transmission electron microscopy investigation was performed on oxides formed on three zirconium alloys (Zircaloy-4, ZIRLO and Zr-2.5Nb) in pure water and lithiated water environments. This research is part of a systematic study of oxide microstructures using various techniques to explain differences in corrosion rates of different zirconium alloys. In this work, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the morphology of the oxide layers (grain size and shape, oxide phases, texture, cracks, and incorporation of precipitates). These characteristics were found to vary with the alloy chemistry, the corrosion environment, and the distance from the oxide/metal interface. These are discussed and used in conjunction with observations from other techniques to derive a mechanism of oxide growth in zirconium alloys.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)265-281
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials
Volume349
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • General Materials Science
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering

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