Effect of Impurity and Alloying Elements on the High-Temperature Oxidation Resistance of a E110 Zirconium Alloy

The structural and phase states of a E110 alloy are studied, and the oxygen and hydrogen contents in the alloy subjected to high-temperature oxidation modeling the loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions are determined. Samples of tubes 9.13 mm in diameter and 0.7 in wall thickness made of a Zr–1% Nb alloy, which is based on electrolytic zirconium (E110) and zirconium sponge (E110G), and a Zr–1% Nb–0.12% Fe–0.13% O modified alloy (E110M) are used for investigation. The samples are subjected to steam oxidation at 1100°C to an equivalent cladding reacted of 18%. The E110G alloy based on a zirconium sponge is found to exhibit the lower oxygen and hydrogen absorption under the LOCA conditions.