A study on the relationship between electronic structure and corrosion characteristics of zirconium alloy in high-temperature hydrogenated water

• Published in: Corrosion science Vol. 157; pp. 180 - 188
• Main Authors: Kim, Taeho, Kim, Seunghyun, Lee, Yunju, Kim, Namdong, Bahn, Chi Bum, Couet, Adrien, Kim, Ji Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 15.08.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: A. Alloy; A. Zirconium; Absorption spectra; B. AFS; B. TEM; C. Oxidation; Corrosion; Electronic structure; Heat resistant alloys; High temperature; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogenation; Microradiography; Oxidation; Spectrum analysis; Tin base alloys; X ray absorption; X ray microscopy; Zirconium alloys; Zirconium base alloys; Zirconium oxides; C. Oxidation; A. Alloy; B. AFS; A. Zirconium; B. TEM
• ISSN: 0010-938X; 1879-0496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2019.05.035

•Electronic structure of zirconium oxide formed in hydrogenated water was investigated.•STXM images show the sub-oxide region just above the zirconium oxide/metal interface.•Intensity of eg and t2g peaks and the separation is changed due to position of oxide.•The diffusivity of oxygen ion at suboxide layer can be influenced on corrosion rate. The corrosion behavior of zirconium alloy was investigated using synchrotron scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Scanning transmission X-ray micrographs showed different electronic structures at the oxide/metal interface of Zr–Nb–Sn alloy after exposure to high-temperature hydrogenated water. The orbital hybridization structure at the oxide/metal interface exhibited weaker t2g and eg peaks in X-ray absorption spectra, suggesting that zirconium suboxide can form just above the oxide/metal interface. The suboxide layer that formed at a high dissolved hydrogen concentration is thicker than the suboxide layer that formed at a normal dissolved hydrogen concentration after 100 d of oxidation.