Effect of High-Current Pulsed Electron Beam Processing of Zr-1%Nb Alloy on Its Oxidation Kinetics at 1200C in Air and Steam

The paper reports the effect of high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) processing of the Zr-1%Nb alloy, as one of the most widely used in water-cooled nuclear reactors, on the kinetics of its oxidation at 1200 °C in air and steam (these conditions are typical for potential loss-of-coolant accidents). It was shown that HCPEB processing caused a change in the surface morphology of the samples. In particular, craters with diameters of about 100 μm were found on the modified surfaces. They had initiated at an energy density of 5 J/cm2 and were characterized by relevant reliefs with microcracks. After HCPEB processing at 10 J/cm2, the craters were deeper with fractured surface layers. In addition, a pronounced surface relief corresponding to quenched martensitic microstructures was observed on the modified sample surfaces that had formed due to high heating and cooling rates. Due to sufficient degradation of the sample surfaces after HCPEB processing at 10 J/cm2, the kinetics of high-temperature oxidation was estimated only for the as-received samples and ones treated at 5 J/cm2. It was found that the as-received samples showed slightly greater weight gain levels in both air and steam environments, which fully correlated with the thickness ratio of the oxide, α-Zr(O) and prior-β layers. These phenomena and further research directions were discussed.