Electroless deposition process for zirconium and zirconium alloys
- Wilmington, NC
A method is disclosed for preventing stress corrosion cracking or metal embrittlement of a zirconium or zirconium alloy container that is to be coated on the inside surface with a layer of a metal such as copper, a copper alloy, nickel, or iron and used for holding nuclear fuel material as a nuclear fuel element. The zirconium material is etched in an etchant solution, desmutted mechanically or ultrasonically, oxidized to form an oxide coating on the zirconium, cleaned in an aqueous alkaline cleaning solution, activated for electroless deposition of a metal layer and contacted with an electroless metal plating solution. This method provides a boundary layer of zirconium oxide between the zirconium container and the metal layer.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EN-77-C-02-4473
- Assignee:
- General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4284660
- OSTI ID:
- 863962
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
deposition
process
zirconium
alloys
method
disclosed
preventing
stress
corrosion
cracking
metal
embrittlement
alloy
container
coated
inside
surface
layer
copper
nickel
iron
holding
nuclear
fuel
material
element
etched
etchant
solution
desmutted
mechanically
ultrasonically
oxidized
form
oxide
coating
cleaned
aqueous
alkaline
cleaning
activated
contacted
plating
provides
boundary
aqueous alkaline
plating solution
stress corrosion
aqueous alkali
corrosion cracking
oxide coating
zirconium alloy
inside surface
fuel material
metal layer
fuel element
nuclear fuel
deposition process
zirconium oxide
method provides
boundary layer
zirconium alloys
copper alloy
electroless deposition
method provide
metal plating
electroless metal
cleaning solution
metal embrittlement
zirconium material
holding nuclear
alloy container
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