Determination of the Hydrogen Concentration in Zr-2.5Nb Alloy by a Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy

• Published in: Key engineering materials 2006-01, Vol.321-323, p.1576-1579
• Main Authors: Cheong, Yong Moo, Kim, Young Suk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1013-9826; 1662-9795; 1662-9795
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.321-323.1576

Zirconium alloys are used for many applications in nuclear components, such as the pressure tube material in a pressurized heavy water reactor, nuclear fuel cladding, etc. One of the problems during the operation of a nuclear reactor is the degradation of the zirconium alloys, which is due to an increase of the hydrogen content in the zirconium alloy. Therefore a non-destructive determination of the hydrogen concentration in zirconium alloy is one of the important issues that need to be addressed. The resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) technique is evaluated for a characterization of the hydrogen concentration in Zr-2.5Nb alloy. Referring to the terminal solid solubility for dissolution (TSSD) of Zr-2.5Nb alloy, the plot of the mechanical damping coefficient (Q-1) versus the temperature or the deviation of the resonant frequency for the temperature (df/dT) versus the temperature was correlated for the hydrogen concentration in Zr-2.5Nb alloy. It was found that the temperature at an abrupt change of the slope can be correlated with the hydrogen concentration of the Zr-2.5Nb alloy.