Oxidation and hydrogenation of zirconium alloy E110 under electron and plasma irradiation in various conditions

Abstract

The features of oxidation and hydrogenation of zirconium alloy E110 under electron and plasma irradiation in various conditions are studied. It is revealed that irradiation intensifies both the oxide layer growth and the hydrogen absorption by zirconium. Applying the anode potential on the E110 sample in plasma allowed to achieve the maximum rates of these processes and at the same time to reproduce their characteristic features exhibited in traditional steam tests. This circumstance determines the choice of plasma anodizing as a perspective basis for the method of accelerated testing of Zr alloys.