THE EFFECT OF HYDRIDING ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ZIRCALOY-2 FOIL
An internally insulated pressure tube concept was proposed, making use of stagnant heavy water layers as insulation and incorporating thin, dimpled, Zircaloy-2 foil both as separation for the layers and as support for the weight of the fuel. Hydrogen (or deuterium) pick-up in the foil was expected under operating conditions. The hydrogen pick-up in service was simulated by hydriding foil specimens using furnace charging techniques and also by static autoclaving foil specimcns in high purity water at 360 deg C. Various levels up to 4000 and 2300 ppm respectively were achieved by the two methods. To determine the effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of the foils, static loading tests were carried out at room temperature and 288 deg C; room temperature cyclic loading tests and crushing tests of dimpled foil were also conducted. The reductions in strength and ductility with increasing hydrogen content were most pronounced in room temperature tests. Although strength and ductility were markedly reduced at the higher hydrogen levels, the foil retained adequate strength to support the calculated static load of the fuel. Cyclic loading tests at room temperature indicated a trend toward a limiting hydrogen level of 750 ppm above which fatigue type failures occurred. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Canadian Westinghouse Co., Ltd. Research and Development Labs., Hamilton, Ont.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-013571
- OSTI ID:
- 4802644
- Report Number(s):
- CW-R&DL-19; AECL-1415
- Country of Publication:
- Canada
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DEUTERIUM
DUCTILITY
FAILURES
FATIGUE
FOILS
FREQUENCY
FUELS
FURNACES
HEAVY WATER
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN
IMPURITIES
LAYERS
LEVELS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NUMERICALS
ORE PROCESSING
PRESSURE
PRESSURE VESSELS
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTOR FUELING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STRESSES
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
TUBES
WATER
WEIGHT
ZIRCALOY