Effect of chloride ion and zirconium hydride on the corrosion and stress corrosion cracking behaviors of functionally graded zirconium alloy was studied to develop an advanced nuclear cladding tubing. The functionally graded zirconium alloy had compos...
Effect of chloride ion and zirconium hydride on the corrosion and stress corrosion cracking behaviors of functionally graded zirconium alloy was studied to develop an advanced nuclear cladding tubing. The functionally graded zirconium alloy had composition gradient of niobium, which was prepared with a hot pressing followed by cold deformation. The corrosion rates hand potentials decreased with increasing FeCl_(3) and hydride content. The corrosion potentials before and after hydriding are -4.3 V_(SHE), 8.8×10^(-5) A cm^(-2) and -12.5 V_(SHE), 3.9×10^(-4) A cm^(-2), respectively. The stress corrosion cracking susceptibility deceased with elongation rate, indicating the saturation value at 5×10^(-7) sec^(-1). SEM observation showed that brittle fracture with corrosion products and pits were observed on the failed surface of hydrided zirconium alloy, suggesting anodic dissolution occurred during exposure after cracking growth along zirconium hydrides.