Journal article 1492 views 314 downloads
In situ imaging of corrosion processes in nuclear fuel cladding
Corrosion Engineering, Science and Technology, Volume: 52, Issue: 8, Pages: 596 - 604
Swansea University Authors:
Carol Glover, Geraint Williams
-
PDF | Accepted Manuscript
Download (1.3MB)
DOI (Published version): 10.1080/1478422X.2017.1344038
Abstract
Spent nuclear fuel in the U.K. is stored within ponds dosed with NaOH in order to inhibit corrosion and, to ensure the efficiency of storage regimes, there is a need to define and quantify the corrosion processes involved during immersion of fuel cladding. In this project, state-of-the-art character...
Published in: | Corrosion Engineering, Science and Technology |
---|---|
ISSN: | 1478-422X 1743-2782 |
Published: |
2017
|
Online Access: |
Check full text
|
URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34526 |
Abstract: |
Spent nuclear fuel in the U.K. is stored within ponds dosed with NaOH in order to inhibit corrosion and, to ensure the efficiency of storage regimes, there is a need to define and quantify the corrosion processes involved during immersion of fuel cladding. In this project, state-of-the-art characterisation techniques were employed to image the corroding surfaces of two nuclear fuel cladding materials: stainless steel and Magnox. Advanced gas-cooled reactor fuel cladding consists of 20Cr-25Ni-Nb stabilised stainless steel and during irradiation the microstructure of the cladding undergoes significant changes, including grain boundary element depletion and segregation. High-speed atomic force microscopy with nanoscale resolution, enabled precipitates and pit initiation in stainless steel to be imaged. Magnox is a magnesium–aluminium alloy and during irradiation in a reactor the outer metal surface oxidises, forming an adherent passive layer which subsequently hydrates when exposed to water. Corrosion processes encompass breakdown of passivity and filiform-like corrosion, both of which were imaged in situ using the scanning vibrating electrode technique. |
---|---|
Keywords: |
Nuclear, filiform corrosion, intergranular corrosion, stainless steel, Magnox, advanced gas-cooled reactor, high-speed atomic force microscopy, scanning vibrating electrode |
College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
Issue: |
8 |
Start Page: |
596 |
End Page: |
604 |