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THE CORROSION BEHAVIOR OF ZIRCONIUM-URANIUM ALLOYS IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE WATER

Journal Article · · Corrosion
The effect on corrosion behavior of water temperature, uranium content, and oxygen content was determined for zirconium 7 through 70 wt. % uranium alloys. Corrosion rates increased as water temperature increased from 500 to 680 deg F, as uranium alloy content increased, and in general as oxygen content in the alloys increased. The amount and distribution of epsilon phase present in alloys containing up through 55 wt. % uranium determined their corrosion behavior. The amount of alpha uranium controls the corrosion behavior of alloys containing more than 60 wt.% uranium. Increase in corrosion rates with increasing oxygen in alloys in the epsilon composition range of 45 to 55 wt. % uranium can be correlated with the effect of oxygen on the stability of the epsilon phase. Microstructures reveal an increase of a second phase (alpha zirconium) with increasing oxygen content. (auth)
Research Organization:
Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-12-016367
OSTI ID:
4307067
Journal Information:
Corrosion, Journal Name: Corrosion Vol. Vol: 14
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English