Long‐term high‐temperature steam oxidation behavior of Cr‐coated Zircaloy‐4 alloy for accident tolerant fuel

Abstract

Abstract The Cr‐coated Zircaloy‐4 samples were prepared by arc ion plating to enhance the high‐temperature oxidation resistance of Zircaloy‐4 alloys for accident tolerant fuel claddings. The oxidation tests of the Cr coating were performed under 1473 K steam for 60, 120, and 240 min. The steam oxidation tests indicated that the Cr‐coated Zircaloy‐4 substrate had excellent high‐temperature steam oxidation resistance to protect the fuel cladding from damage for at least 240 min. The weight gains and the thickness of the oxidation scale of the samples were measured to evaluate the oxidation kinetics of the Cr coating in 1473 K steam. In addition, the diffusion and interfacial evolution were analyzed during the oxidation process, and the steam oxidation behaviors of the Cr coatings were also discussed in detail.