Hydrothermal deposition of zirconia coatings on pre-oxidized BWR structural materials

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2008-09, Vol.378 (3), p.229-237
• Main Authors: Zhou, Z.F., Chalkova, E., Lvov, S.N., Chou, P.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear fuels
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.03.026

An in situ hydrothermal deposition process is being developed to apply a thin coating of zirconia onto the structural materials used in Boiling Water Reactors as a potential method for mitigating intergranular stress corrosion cracking. The process has successfully deposited ZrO 2 onto as-received interior surfaces of 304 stainless steel and Alloy 600 tubes [Z.F. Zhou, E. Chalkova, S.N. Lvov, P. Chou, R. Pathania, Corros. Sci. 49 (2007) 830]. This paper discusses the application of the coating on specimens with different surface conditions: as-received; ground to remove the as-received surface; and ground and pre-oxidized. For comparable deposition parameters and for a given substrate, the different surface conditions did not influence the morphology or the thickness of the coating, but had a substantial impact on adhesion. As in our previous study, electrochemical potentials of the coated specimens in simulated BWR environment were not clearly lower than those of uncoated specimens [Zhou et al., 2007].