Open AccessEFFECT OF ADDITIONS TO ZIRCALOY ON HYDROGEN PICKUP DURING AQUEOUS CORROSION
Author(s) -
W.E. Berry,
Earl L. White,
F.W. Fink
Publication year - 1959
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4200611
Subject(s) - corrosion , hydrogen , zirconium alloy , alloy , materials science , inorganic chemistry , aqueous solution , partial pressure , metallurgy , nickel , absorption (acoustics) , chemistry , oxygen , organic chemistry , composite material
An investigation was conducted into the possibility of alloy additions to Zircaloy-2 to diminish hydrogen absorption during aqueous corrosion. The nickel in Zircaloy-2 is believed to be the major constituent responsible for the relatively high hydrogen absorption. Additions of up to 0.5 wt.% antimony, arsenic, bismuth, or tellurium were selected on the basis of their known ability to poison the catalytic effects of nickel in hydrogenation reactions of other systems. Results of tests conducted for a total of 224 days in 600 and 680 deg F water and 750 deg F steam revealed no decrease in hydrogen absorption in modified Zircaloy-2 containing the aforementioned alloy additions. Hydrogen absorption increased when these alloying elements were present in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 wt.%. Corrosion resistance also decreased with alloy additions in these ranges. A 2-atm. partial pressure of hydrogen in the steam or above the water did not affect hydrogen absorption in the alloys appreciably. The hydrogen partial pressure did not affect time to transition in corrosion rates, but did appear to produce higher weight gains than degassed water. (auth