Current status of materials development of nuclear fuel cladding tubes for light water reactors

Zirconium-based (Zr-based) alloys have been widely used as materials for the key components in light water reactors (LWRs), such as fuel claddings which suffer from waterside corrosion, hydrogen uptakes and strength loss at elevated temperature, especially during accident scenarios like the lost-of-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear engineering and design 2017-05, Vol.316, p.131-150
Main Authors: Duan, Zhengang, Yang, Huilong, Satoh, Yuhki, Murakami, Kenta, Kano, Sho, Zhao, Zishou, Shen, Jingjie, Abe, Hiroaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents
Alloy development
Alloy steels
Alloy systems
Alloying elements
Alloys
BWR
Clad metals
Coating
Fabrication
Fuel cladding
High temperature
Historical metallurgy
Light water
Light water reactors
LWR
Nuclear fuel elements
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear reactor components
Nuclear reactors
Optimization
PWR
Reactors
Reviews
SiC
Tubes
Zirconium
Zirconium base alloys
Zr-based alloy
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Summary:Zirconium-based (Zr-based) alloys have been widely used as materials for the key components in light water reactors (LWRs), such as fuel claddings which suffer from waterside corrosion, hydrogen uptakes and strength loss at elevated temperature, especially during accident scenarios like the lost-of-coolant accident (LOCA). For the purpose of providing a safer, nuclear leakage resistant and economically viable LWRs, three general approaches have been proposed so far to develop the accident tolerant fuel (ATF) claddings: optimization of metallurgical composition and processing of Zr-based alloys, coatings on existing Zr-based alloys and replacement of current Zr-based alloys. In this manuscript, an attempt has been made to systematically present the historic development of Zr-based cladding, including the impacts of alloying elements on the material properties. Subsequently, the research investigations on coating layer on the surface of Zr-based claddings, mainly referring coating materials and fabrication methods, have been broadly reviewed. The last section of this review provides the introduction to alternative materials (Non-Zr) to Zr-based alloys for LWRs, such as advanced steels, Mo-based, and SiC-based materials.
ISSN:0029-5493
1872-759X
DOI:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2017.02.031