Comparison of the high-temperature oxidation behavior of Zircaloy-4 and pure zirconium

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6461017

Pawel, R E; Campbell, J J

Steam oxidation of pure, arc-melted, crystal-bar zirconium was studied under isothermal conditions in the temperature range 1000 to 1500 degree C. The results were compared with available oxidation rate data for zircaloy-4 in order to examine the influence of minor alloying additions on the parameters critical to the oxidation behavior. While the basic oxidation processes for zirconium and Zircaloy-4 are identical, significant differences in the kinetics, oxygen diffusivities, and morphology were observed. Thus, in addition to the decreased oxygen diffusivity in the oxide phase on pure zirconium compared with that on Zircaloy-4, a higher activation energy was observerd, implying that some mechanistic differences exist. Significant morphological and grain size differences in the columnar oxide growing suggest that the relative contributions to oxide growth from short-circuit diffusion differ in the two oxides. 27 refs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Natl Lab, TN, USA
• OSTI ID: 6461017
• Report Number(s): CONF-800834-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTIVATION ENERGY
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