NEUTRON IRRADIATION AND COLD WORK EFFECTS ON ZIRCALOY-2 CORROSION AND HYDROGEN PICKUP. An Interim Report

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4714398

Burns, W A; Maffei, H P

Corrosion weight gains and hydrogen sorption for Zircaloy-2 specimens exposed to similar aqueous and thermal environments in- and out-of-reactor were compared to obtain quantitative information relative to the effects of a high- energy neutron flux on the processes involved. Metal specimens representing four levels of cold work were exposed in high quality water at 540 deg F to fast- neutron flux intensities over the range 1.7 to 4.2 x 10/sup 13/ nv (>1.0 Mev) and to a maximum integrated fast flux of 1.06 x 10/sup 20/ nvt. In-reactor weight gains were found to be higher by an order of magnitude, and a saturation effect of flux was indicated. No significant effects of work history on corrosion were observed. Fractional pickup of corrosion hydrogen in-reactor was within the range normally expected for out-of-reactor exposure, but a trend toward reduced pickup of hydrogen by material cold worked to the extent of about 10% was observed. No effect of cold work on hydrogen pickup was observed for unirradiated specimens. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-17-027729
• OSTI ID: 4714398
• Report Number(s): HW-76636
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
COLD WORKING
CORROSION
HYDROGEN
IRRADIATION
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRONS
WATER
ZIRCALOY