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Electrochemical behaviour and hydride embrittlement evaluation of titanium during cathodic polarization in HNO 3 /UO 2 2+ /N 2 H 5 + solutions
Author(s) -
Fiebiger C.,
Kilian R.,
Degelmann E.,
Robisch O.,
Kaiser H.,
Kaesche H.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
materials and corrosion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.487
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1521-4176
pISSN - 0947-5117
DOI - 10.1002/maco.19890401202
Subject(s) - hydride , materials science , embrittlement , polarization (electrochemistry) , titanium , electrochemistry , titanium hydride , cathode , hydrogen embrittlement , cathodic protection , inorganic chemistry , electrode , metallurgy , chemistry , corrosion , metal
In conjunction with reprocessing of nuclear fuels by electrochemical methods, the general electrochemical behaviour of titanium cathodes and the problem of their hydride embrittlement have been investigated in the absence of γ‐radiation in HNO 3 /UO 2 2+ /N 2 H 5 +solutions of varying composition. The electrode potential of galvanostatically polarized titanium cathodes is shown to be located either in the passive range, within the passive‐to‐active transition, or in the regime of hydrogen absorption/hydride formation, depending on the current yield of the nitrate reduction reaction. Hydride growth was observed predominantly in the morphology of continuous layers and/or isolated platelets. Following a parabolic rate law it was restricted to the vicinity of the electrode surface, the maximum penetration for polarization times up to 1000 h being less than 100 μm. As a consequence, no significant loss of ductility of normal tensile specimens could be detected under these conditions.