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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

DEVELOPMENT OF NIOBIUM-BASE ALLOYS FOR USE IN A NUCLEAR SUPERHEATER

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4635135

Niobium-base alloys containing additions of aluminum. chromium, iron, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium, and zirconium were prepared by arc melting and evaluated for corrosion resistance in the cold-worked (90 per cent reduction) and annealed (1 hr at 1200 deg C) conditions by autoclave tests in 1500-psi steam at 540 deg C. Additions of aluminum, iron, molybdenum, and zirconium were detrimental, in the amounts studied, to corrosion resistance while chromium. titanium, and vanadium were beneficial. In addition, the alloys generally showed better resistance to steam corrosion when tested in the cold-worked condition. A family of alloys containing additions of 18 to 24 at.% titanium, 12 to 18 at.% vanadium, and 9 to 12 at.% chromium to niobium exhibited good resistance to 540 deg C steam. A corrosion feature unique to this family of alloys was the formation of an adherent shiny, bluish-black oxide film. In 189 days of exposure to 540 deg C steam, specimens of one of the alloys, niobium-21 at.% titanium-12 at.% vanadium-9 at.% chromium, underwent a weight gain of 227 mg per dm/sup 2/. (auth)

Research Organization:
Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-92
NSA Number:
NSA-17-036221
OSTI ID:
4635135
Report Number(s):
BMI-1636; EURAEC-744
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English