Toward a Comprehensive Mechanistic Understanding of Hydrogen Uptake in Zirconium Alloys by Combining Atom Probe Analysis With Electronic Structure Calculations

Toward a Comprehensive Mechanistic Understanding of Hydrogen Uptake in Zirconium Alloys by Combining Atom Probe Analysis With Electronic Structure Calculations PDF Author: Mattias Thuvander
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Alloys
Languages : en
Pages : 25

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Book Description
The ability of a zirconium alloy to resist corrosion relies on a compromise between two opposing strategies. Minimizing the hydrogen pickup fraction (HPUF) by invoking metallic electron conduction in the barrier oxide results in rapid parabolic oxide growth. On the other hand, slow sub-parabolic barrier oxide growth, as reflected in rate limiting electron transport, may result in a high HPUF. The objective of the present study is to offer mechanistic insights as to how low concentrations of different alloying elements become decisive for the overall corrosion behavior. Combining atomistic microanalysis with first principles modeling by means of density functional theory, the speciation and redox properties of Fe and Ni towards hydrogen evolution are firstly explored. Complementary atom probe microanalysis at the metal-oxide interface provides evidence for Fe and Ni segregation to grain boundaries in Zircaloy-2 that propagates into the ZrO2 scale. Descriptors for how alloying elements in ZrO2 control electron transport as well as catalytic electron-proton recombination in grain boundaries to form H2 are determined by means of theory. The findings are generalized by further atomistic modeling, and are thus put in the context of early reports from autoclave experiments on HPUFs of zirconium with the alloying elements Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Nb. A shunting mechanism which combines inner and outer hydrogen evolution mechanisms is proposed. Properties of the transient zirconium sub-oxide are discussed. A plausible atomistic overall understanding emerges.

Toward a Comprehensive Mechanistic Understanding of Hydrogen Uptake in Zirconium Alloys by Combining Atom Probe Analysis With Electronic Structure Calculations

Toward a Comprehensive Mechanistic Understanding of Hydrogen Uptake in Zirconium Alloys by Combining Atom Probe Analysis With Electronic Structure Calculations PDF Author: Mattias Thuvander
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Alloys
Languages : en
Pages : 25

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Book Description
The ability of a zirconium alloy to resist corrosion relies on a compromise between two opposing strategies. Minimizing the hydrogen pickup fraction (HPUF) by invoking metallic electron conduction in the barrier oxide results in rapid parabolic oxide growth. On the other hand, slow sub-parabolic barrier oxide growth, as reflected in rate limiting electron transport, may result in a high HPUF. The objective of the present study is to offer mechanistic insights as to how low concentrations of different alloying elements become decisive for the overall corrosion behavior. Combining atomistic microanalysis with first principles modeling by means of density functional theory, the speciation and redox properties of Fe and Ni towards hydrogen evolution are firstly explored. Complementary atom probe microanalysis at the metal-oxide interface provides evidence for Fe and Ni segregation to grain boundaries in Zircaloy-2 that propagates into the ZrO2 scale. Descriptors for how alloying elements in ZrO2 control electron transport as well as catalytic electron-proton recombination in grain boundaries to form H2 are determined by means of theory. The findings are generalized by further atomistic modeling, and are thus put in the context of early reports from autoclave experiments on HPUFs of zirconium with the alloying elements Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Nb. A shunting mechanism which combines inner and outer hydrogen evolution mechanisms is proposed. Properties of the transient zirconium sub-oxide are discussed. A plausible atomistic overall understanding emerges.

The Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrides on the Integrity of Zirconium Alloy Components

The Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrides on the Integrity of Zirconium Alloy Components PDF Author: Manfred P. Puls
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1447141954
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 475

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Book Description
By drawing together the current theoretical and experimental understanding of the phenomena of delayed hydride cracking (DHC) in zirconium alloys, The Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrides on the Integrity of Zirconium Alloy Components: Delayed Hydride Cracking provides a detailed explanation focusing on the properties of hydrogen and hydrides in these alloys. Whilst the emphasis lies on zirconium alloys, the combination of both the empirical and mechanistic approaches creates a solid understanding that can also be applied to other hydride forming metals. This up-to-date reference focuses on documented research surrounding DHC, including current methodologies for design and assessment of the results of periodic in-service inspections of pressure tubes in nuclear reactors. Emphasis is placed on showing how our understanding of DHC is supported by progress in general understanding of such broad fields as the study of hysteresis associated with first order phase transformations, phase relationships in coherent crystalline metallic solids, the physics of point and line defects, diffusion of substitutional and interstitial atoms in crystalline solids, and continuum fracture and solid mechanics. Furthermore, an account of current methodologies is given illustrating how such understanding of hydrogen, hydrides and DHC in zirconium alloys underpins these methodologies for assessments of real life cases in the Canadian nuclear industry. The all-encompassing approach makes The Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrides on the Integrity of Zirconium Alloy Component: Delayed Hydride Cracking an ideal reference source for students, researchers and industry professionals alike.

A Study of the Hydrogen Uptake Mechanism in Zirconium Alloys

A Study of the Hydrogen Uptake Mechanism in Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: MB. Elmoselhi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Hydrogen diffusion
Languages : en
Pages : 18

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Book Description
Hydrogen uptake in zirconium alloy CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) pressure tubes and other core components is controlled by the rate of transport of atomic/ionic species across the oxide film. The importance of understanding the mechanism of transport stems from the need to predict and control the rate of uptake. Samples of Zr-2.5Nb and Zircaloy-2 were prefilmed in steam (H2O, 400°C at 2 MPa) and subsequently exposed to D2O (10-3 Pa to 18 MPa) and D2 (10-3 Pa) at a temperature range of 250 to 380°C in the laboratory. Samples from Zr-2.5Nb pressure tubes removed from CANDU power reactors were also examined. Hydrogen mobility in oxides was investigated by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) following these exposures. Diffusional-type through-oxide-thickness deuterium profiles have been observed adjacent to the oxide-metal interface for samples exposed to environments containing D2O for 4 h out-reactor and up to 10 years in-reactor. These profiles probably represent the density of accessible sites on surfaces of intergranular porosity through-thickness. Although, in small regions observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) such porosity has not been found. Nevertheless, from observations of grain size, sufficient sites would be available to produce deuterium concentration observed near oxide surfaces. The observed deuterium concentration profiles appear to result predominantly from deuteroxyl groups bonded to such sites. Deuterium content at the oxide-metal interface provides an indication of the extent of interfacial intergranular porosity. High deuterium contents at the interface may imply local regions with absent oxide barrier at the interface. In the presence of sufficient D2O, the oxide is continually healed, and deuterium uptake is relatively low where short-circuit routes such as intermetallics in Zircaloy-2 are not present. In environments with relatively high D2:D2O ratios, deuterium atoms may diffuse through the oxide to the interface and react directly with the metal resulting in high deuterium uptake rates. It is proposed that observed deuterium profiles may be the sum of mainly two components. The predominant component is due to deuteroxyl groups residing on accessible sites on surfaces of intergranular porosity with no direct link to hydrogen uptake by the bulk alloy. The second masked component would be due to another mobile hydrogen species (for example, H) that is diffusing to the bulk alloy. Further work is needed to substantiate the proposed hypothesis that would include exposures with varying D2:D2O ratios and further TEM examination.

Hydrogen Pickup Mechanism of Zirconium Alloys

Hydrogen Pickup Mechanism of Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: Adrien Couet
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Although the optimization of zirconium based alloys has led to significant improvements in hydrogen pickup and corrosion resistance, the mechanisms by which such alloy improvements occur are still not well understood. In an effort to understand such mechanisms, a systematic study of the alloy effect on hydrogen pickup is conducted, using advanced characterization techniques to rationalize precise measurements of hydrogen pickup. The hydrogen pick-up fraction is accurately measured for a specially designed set of commercial and model alloys to investigate the effects of alloying elements, microstructure and corrosion kinetics on hydrogen uptake. Two different techniques to measure hydrogen concentrations were used: a destructive technique, Vacuum Hot Extraction, and a non-destructive one, Cold Neutron Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis. The results indicate that hydrogen pickup varies not only from alloy to alloy but also during the corrosion process for a given alloy. For instance Zircaloy type alloys show high hydrogen pickup fraction and sub-parabolic oxidation kinetics whereas ZrNb alloys show lower hydrogen pickup fraction and close to parabolic oxidation kinetics. Hypothesis is made that hydrogen pickup result from the need to balance charge during the corrosion reaction, such that the pickup of hydrogen is directly related to (and indivisible of) the corrosion mechanism and decreases when the rate of electron transport or oxide electronic conductivity through the protective oxide increases. According to this hypothesis, alloying elements (either in solid solution or in precipitates) embedded in the oxide as well as space charge variations in the oxide would impact the hydrogen pick-up fraction by modifying electron transport, which drives oxidation and hydriding kinetics. Dedicated experiments and modelling were performed to assess and validate these hypotheses.In-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments were performed on Zircaloy-4 tubes to directly measure the evolution of oxide electronic conductivity as function of exposure time. The results show that oxide electronic conductivty decreases as function of exposure time and that its variations are directly correlated to the instantaneous hydrogen pickup fraction variations. The electron transport through the oxide layer is thus altered as the oxide grows, reasons for which are yet to be exactly determined. Preliminary results also show that oxide electronic conductivty of ZrNb alloys would be much higher compared with Zircaloy-4. Thus, it is confirmed that oxide electronic conductivity is a key parameter in the hydrogen and oxidation mechanism.Because the mechanism whereby alloying elements are incorporated into the oxide layer is critical to changing [sigma]_(e^-)^ox, the evolution of the oxidation state of two common alloying elements, Fe and Nb, when incorporated into the growing oxide layers is investigated using X-Ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) using micro-beam synchrotron radiation on cross sectional oxide samples. The results show that the oxidation of both Fe and Nb is delayed in the oxide layer compared to that of Zr, and that this oxidation delay is related to the variations of the instantaneous hydrogen pick-up fraction with exposure time. The evolution of Nb oxidation as function of oxide depth is also compatible with space charge compensation in the oxide and with an increase in oxide electronic conductivity of ZrNb alloys compared to Zircaloys.Finally, various successively complex models from the well-known Wagner oxidation theory to the more complex effect of space charge on oxidation kinetics have been developed. The general purpose of the modeling effort is to provide a rationale for the sub-parabolic oxidation kinetics and demonstrate the correlation with hydrogen pickup fraction. It is directly demonstrated that parabolic oxidation kinetics is associated with high oxide electronic conductivity and low space charges in the oxide whereas sub-parabolic oxidation kinetics is associated with lower oxide electronic conductivity and higher space charge in the oxide.All these observations helped us to propose a general corrosion mechanism of zirconium alloys involving both oxidation and hydrogen pickup mechanism to better understand and predict the effect of alloying additions on the behavior of zirconium alloys.

Understanding Corrosion and Hydrogen Pickup of Zirconium Fuel Cladding Alloys

Understanding Corrosion and Hydrogen Pickup of Zirconium Fuel Cladding Alloys PDF Author: Jing Hu
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Zirconium
Languages : en
Pages : 34

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Book Description
We used a range of advanced microscopy techniques to study the microstructure, nanoscale chemistry, and porosity in zirconium alloys at different stages of oxidation. Samples from both autoclave and in-reactor conditions were available, including ZIRLOTM, Zr-1.0Nb, and Zr-2.5Nb samples with different heat treatments. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), and automated crystal orientation mapping with TEM were used to study the grain structure and phase distribution. Significant differences in grain morphology were observed between samples oxidized in the autoclave and in-reactor, with shorter, less well-aligned monoclinic grains and more tetragonal grains in the neutron-irradiated samples. A combination of energy-dispersive X-ray mapping in STEM and atom probe tomography analysis of second-phase particles (SPPs) can reveal the main and minor element distributions respectively. Neutron irradiation seems to have little effect on promoting fast oxidation or dissolution of ?-niobium precipitates but encourages the dissolution of iron from Laves-phase precipitates. An electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis of the oxidation state of niobium in ?-niobium SPPs in the oxide revealed the fully oxidized Nb5+ state in SPPs deep into the oxide but Nb2+ in crystalline SPPs near the metal-oxide interface. EELS analysis and automated crystal orientation mapping with TEM revealed Widmanstatten-type suboxide layers in some samples with the hexagonal ZrO structure predicted by ab initio modeling. The combined thickness of the ZrO suboxide and oxygen-saturated layers at the metal-oxide interface correlated well to the instantaneous oxidation rate, suggesting that this oxygen-rich zone is part of the protective oxide that is rate limiting in the transport processes involved in oxidation. Porosity in the oxide had a major influence on the overall rate of oxidation, and there was more porosity in the rapidly oxidizing annealed Zr-1.0Nb alloy than in either the recrystallized alloy or the similar alloy exposed to neutron irradiation.

Hydriding of Zircaloy-2

Hydriding of Zircaloy-2 PDF Author: Myra S. Feldman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Zircaloy-2
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry

Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry PDF Author: George P. Sabol
Publisher: ASTM International
ISBN: 0803124066
Category : Nuclear fuel claddings
Languages : en
Pages : 907

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Book Description


Oxidation of Metals

Oxidation of Metals PDF Author: Karl Hauffe
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1468489208
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 460

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Book Description
During the translation, the author had the opportunity to re view several chapters, taking into consideration the more recent literature. As far as possible all new theoretical concepts and experi mental data published before 1963 have been quoted and discussed under the theoretical viewpoint of this book. A new chapter "Passivity and Inhibition During High-Tempera ture Oxidation" was introduced. Section 4.8 was enlarged by a dis cussion of the transition from internal to external oxidation. The author very much appreciates the cooperation of the trans lator and of Plenum Press. Gottingen, April 1.965 Karl Hauffe v Preface The number of publications concerned with oxidation and cor rosion processes has become so copious that many engineers and scientists find it practically impossible to obtain an overall view of the growing body of knowledge and to bring order to the confusing multiplicity of experimental data. As a result the need for a compre hensive survey of the present state of research in this field has be come more and more urgent.

Fundamentals of Radiation Materials Science

Fundamentals of Radiation Materials Science PDF Author: GARY S. WAS
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1493934384
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1014

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Book Description
The revised second edition of this established text offers readers a significantly expanded introduction to the effects of radiation on metals and alloys. It describes the various processes that occur when energetic particles strike a solid, inducing changes to the physical and mechanical properties of the material. Specifically it covers particle interaction with the metals and alloys used in nuclear reactor cores and hence subject to intense radiation fields. It describes the basics of particle-atom interaction for a range of particle types, the amount and spatial extent of the resulting radiation damage, the physical effects of irradiation and the changes in mechanical behavior of irradiated metals and alloys. Updated throughout, some major enhancements for the new edition include improved treatment of low- and intermediate-energy elastic collisions and stopping power, expanded sections on molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo methodologies describing collision cascade evolution, new treatment of the multi-frequency model of diffusion, numerous examples of RIS in austenitic and ferritic-martensitic alloys, expanded treatment of in-cascade defect clustering, cluster evolution, and cluster mobility, new discussion of void behavior near grain boundaries, a new section on ion beam assisted deposition, and reorganization of hardening, creep and fracture of irradiated materials (Chaps 12-14) to provide a smoother and more integrated transition between the topics. The book also contains two new chapters. Chapter 15 focuses on the fundamentals of corrosion and stress corrosion cracking, covering forms of corrosion, corrosion thermodynamics, corrosion kinetics, polarization theory, passivity, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking. Chapter 16 extends this treatment and considers the effects of irradiation on corrosion and environmentally assisted corrosion, including the effects of irradiation on water chemistry and the mechanisms of irradiation-induced stress corrosion cracking. The book maintains the previous style, concepts are developed systematically and quantitatively, supported by worked examples, references for further reading and end-of-chapter problem sets. Aimed primarily at students of materials sciences and nuclear engineering, the book will also provide a valuable resource for academic and industrial research professionals. Reviews of the first edition: "...nomenclature, problems and separate bibliography at the end of each chapter allow to the reader to reach a straightforward understanding of the subject, part by part. ... this book is very pleasant to read, well documented and can be seen as a very good introduction to the effects of irradiation on matter, or as a good references compilation for experimented readers." - Pauly Nicolas, Physicalia Magazine, Vol. 30 (1), 2008 “The text provides enough fundamental material to explain the science and theory behind radiation effects in solids, but is also written at a high enough level to be useful for professional scientists. Its organization suits a graduate level materials or nuclear science course... the text was written by a noted expert and active researcher in the field of radiation effects in metals, the selection and organization of the material is excellent... may well become a necessary reference for graduate students and researchers in radiation materials science.” - L.M. Dougherty, 07/11/2008, JOM, the Member Journal of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society.

Metals Abstracts

Metals Abstracts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metallurgy
Languages : en
Pages : 1440

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Book Description