Journal article 1296 views 272 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
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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 |
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| ISSN: | 1478-422X 1743-2782 |
| Published: |
2017
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34526 |
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| 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. |
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| 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 |