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Comparative study and imaging by PhotoElectroChemical techniques of oxide films thermally grown on zirconium and Zircaloy-4
- Source :
-
Journal of Nuclear Materials . Feb2007, Vol. 360 Issue 2, p151-158. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Abstract: The oxidation of iron and chromium that are present as impurities in zirconium metal or as alloying elements in Zircaloy-4 was investigated with PhotoElectroChemical techniques (PEC), highlighting the chemical nature, the size and the lateral distribution of Fe and Cr-containing phases in thin zirconia scales formed during the oxidation of pure zirconium and Zircaloy-4 at 470°C in oxygen. In the case of zirconium, iron and chromium impurities led to the formation of oxides distributed in a homogeneous way in the zirconia scale, while in the case of Zircaloy-4 these elements, present in the form of intermetallic particles in the substrate, led to the formation of localised haematite Fe2O3, rhomboedric solid solution (Fe x Cr1−x )2O3 and chromia Cr2O3 phases. These phases were accurately studied via the measurement of their respective band-gap (Fe2O3: 2.2eV, (Fe x Cr1−x )2O3: 2.6eV and Cr2O3: 3.0eV). It is concluded that PEC techniques represent a sensitive and powerful way to locally analyse the various semiconductor phases in the oxide scale at a micron scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- *PHOTOELECTROCHEMISTRY
*METAL inclusions
*METALLIC oxides
*NUCLEAR research
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00223115
- Volume :
- 360
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Nuclear Materials
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23554367
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2006.10.001