The Effect Of Hydrogen And Hydrides On The Integrity Of Zirconium Alloy Components

By drawing together the current theoretical and experimental understanding of the phenomena of delayed hydride cracking (DHC) in zirconium alloys, The Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrides on the Integrity of Zirconium Alloy Components: Delayed Hydride Cracking provides a detailed explanation focusing on the properties of hydrogen and hydrides in these alloys. Whilst the emphasis lies on zirconium alloys, the combination of both the empirical and mechanistic approaches creates a solid understanding that can also be applied to other hydride forming metals. This up-to-date reference focuses on documented research surrounding DHC, including current methodologies for design and assessment of the results of periodic in-service inspections of pressure tubes in nuclear reactors. Emphasis is placed on showing how our understanding of DHC is supported by progress in general understanding of such broad fields as the study of hysteresis associated with first order phase transformations, phase relationships in coherent crystalline metallic solids, the physics of point and line defects, diffusion of substitutional and interstitial atoms in crystalline solids, and continuum fracture and solid mechanics. Furthermore, an account of current methodologies is given illustrating how such understanding of hydrogen, hydrides and DHC in zirconium alloys underpins these methodologies for assessments of real life cases in the Canadian nuclear industry. The all-encompassing approach makes The Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrides on the Integrity of Zirconium Alloy Component: Delayed Hydride Cracking an ideal reference source for students, researchers and industry professionals alike.

Zirconium alloys have been widely used for nuclear fuel cladding materials in light-water nuclear reactors. The cladding corrodes as a result of exposure to the coolant water and produces hydrogen as a result of the corrosion reaction. A fraction of this hydrogen can be picked up into the cladding material. Once the hydrogen content reaches the terminal solid solubility, zirconium hydride particles start to precipitate. The cladding suffers waterside corrosion in service, leading to hydrogen ingress, which can redistribute in the cladding and form hydrides. Because these zirconium hydrides are more brittle than the zirconium matrix, they can deteriorate the ductility of the cladding. Therefore, understanding hydrogen behavior in cladding is important to maintain cladding integrity. This study aims to investigate hydrogen migration under a temperature gradient and mechanical behavior of hydrided zirconium alloys. The hydrogen transport and hydride precipitation /dissolution model HNGD was implemented in the fuel performance code BISON to predict hydrogen behavior. The hydrogen is distributed inhomogeneously in the cladding as a result of Fick's law and Soret effect. The hydrogen tends to move from higher to lower concentration governed by Fick's law and higher to lower temperature based on the Soret effect. Hydrogen migration tests were designed to determine the heat of transport value (Q*) of hydrogen in Zr, a parameter needed to evaluate the Soret effect. Hydrided samples were subjected to a long annealing schedule in a temperature gradient to re-distribute the hydrogen. The annealed samples were cut into several pieces along the temperature gradient, and the hydrogen contents were analyzed using hot vacuum extraction. The hydrogen distribution along the temperature gradient was observed in this experiment, and from this data, the heat of transport value (Q*) was determined. Further, the mechanical behavior of zirconium alloys was assessed using ring compression tests. The zirconium alloy tubes were characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to identify the microstructure of materials. Stress relieved anneal ZIRLO (SRA) and low Sn Partially recrystallized anneal LT ZIRLO (PRXA) show different grain shapes and sizes. After characterization, the zirconium alloy tubes were hydrogen charged and cut into 8 mm length rings. The ring samples were subjected to compression at 12 o'clock following a specified thermomechanical cycle. This thermomechanical treatment caused partial precipitation of radial hydrides in certain positions of the ring samples. The radial hydride fractions were characterized and showed a difference between ZIRLO and LT ZIRLO because of their different microstructures. Finite element modeling conducted using ABAQUS could then determine the threshold stress for two materials by comparing simulation results (stress state) and hydride morphologies. In addition, the ring compression tests for assessing hydrided cladding ductility for various hydride morphologies were conducted at room temperature. Ring samples with different radial hydride continuity factors (RHCF) were tested to determine their load-displacement curves. The 1% permanent strain and 2 % offset strain criteria were chosen to assess the ductility of samples. The ductility degrades with increasing RHCF.

Advanced Materials for Emerging Applications is a monograph on emerging materials'; materials that have observable differences in physical properties and manufacturing requirements when compared to existing materials and industrial processes. The volume aims to showcase novel materials that can be used in advanced technology and innovative products. The editors have compiled 17 chapters grouped into 3 sections: 1) Metals and Alloys, 2) Composite materials, and 3) Other materials. Chapters 1-5 discuss recent advances in friction stir welding, suitability of nickel-base shape memory alloys, thermal cycling studies of nickel-based shape memory alloys, nitrogen additions to stainless steel, and the evolution of zirconium alloy. Chapters 6-11 cover topics such as additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites, composite materials for biomedical applications, aluminum and magnesium metal matrix composites, aluminum nanocomposites for automobile applications, enhancing the strength of aluminum-boron carbide composites, and sisal fibers reinforced composites. Lastly, chapters 13-17 explore smart hydrogels, engineered iron-oxide nanomaterials for magnetic hyperthermia, emerging sustainable material technology for fire safety, recent advances in unconventional machining of smart alloys, and critical parameters influencing high-strain rate deformation of materials. This monograph provides information for a broad readership including material and manufacturing engineers, researchers, students (at undergraduate levels or above) and entrepreneurs interested in manufacturing new products.

Materials in a nuclear environment are exposed to extreme conditions of radiation, temperature and/or corrosion, and in many cases the combination of these makes the material behavior very different from conventional materials. This is evident for the four major technological challenges the nuclear technology domain is facing currently: (i) long-term operation of existing Generation II nuclear power plants, (ii) the design of the next generation reactors (Generation IV), (iii) the construction of the ITER fusion reactor in Cadarache (France), (iv) and the intermediate and final disposal of nuclear waste. In order to address these challenges, engineers and designers need to know the properties of a wide variety of materials under these conditions and to understand the underlying processes affecting changes in their behavior, in order to assess their performance and to determine the limits of operation. Comprehensive Nuclear Materials, Second Edition, Seven Volume Set provides broad ranging, validated summaries of all the major topics in the field of nuclear material research for fission as well as fusion reactor systems. Attention is given to the fundamental scientific aspects of nuclear materials: fuel and structural materials for fission reactors, waste materials, and materials for fusion reactors. The articles are written at a level that allows undergraduate students to understand the material, while providing active researchers with a ready reference resource of information. Most of the chapters from the first Edition have been revised and updated and a significant number of new topics are covered in completely new material. During the ten years between the two editions, the challenge for applications of nuclear materials has been significantly impacted by world events, public awareness, and technological innovation. Materials play a key role as enablers of new technologies, and we trust that this new edition of Comprehensive Nuclear Materials has captured the key recent developments. Critically reviews the major classes and functions of materials, supporting the selection, assessment, validation and engineering of materials in extreme nuclear environments Comprehensive resource for up-to-date and authoritative information which is not always available elsewhere, even in journals Provides an in-depth treatment of materials modeling and simulation, with a specific focus on nuclear issues Serves as an excellent entry point for students and researchers new to the field

The aim of this major reference work is to provide a first point of entry to the literature for the researchers in any field relating to structural integrity in the form of a definitive research/reference tool which links the various sub-disciplines that comprise the whole of structural integrity. Special emphasis will be given to the interaction between mechanics and materials and structural integrity applications. Because of the interdisciplinary and applied nature of the work, it will be of interest to mechanical engineers and materials scientists from both academic and industrial backgrounds including bioengineering, interface engineering and nanotechnology. The scope of this work encompasses, but is not restricted to: fracture mechanics, fatigue, creep, materials, dynamics, environmental degradation, numerical methods, failure mechanisms and damage mechanics, interfacial fracture and nano-technology, structural analysis, surface behaviour and heart valves. The structures under consideration include: pressure vessels and piping, off-shore structures, gas installations and pipelines, chemical plants, aircraft, railways, bridges, plates and shells, electronic circuits, interfaces, nanotechnology, artificial organs, biomaterial prostheses, cast structures, mining... and more. Case studies will form an integral part of the work.

High-performance alloys that can withstand operation in hazardous nuclear environments are critical to presentday in-service reactor support and maintenance and are foundational for reactor concepts of the future. With commercial nuclear energy vendors and operators facing the retirement of staff during the coming decades, much of the scholarly knowledge of nuclear materials pursuant to appropriate, impactful, and safe usage is at risk. Led by the multi-award winning editorial team of G. Robert Odette (UCSB) and Steven J. Zinkle (UTK/ORNL) and with contributions from leaders of each alloy discipline, Structural Alloys for Nuclear Energy Applications aids the next generation of researchers and industry staff developing and maintaining steels, nickel-base alloys, zirconium alloys, and other structural alloys in nuclear energy applications. This authoritative reference is a critical acquisition for institutions and individuals seeking state-of-the-art knowledge aided by the editors’ unique personal insight from decades of frontline research, engineering and management. Focuses on in-service irradiation, thermal, mechanical, and chemical performance capabilities. Covers the use of steels and other structural alloys in current fission technology, leading edge Generation-IV fission reactors, and future fusion power reactors. Provides a critical and comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art experimental knowledge base of reactor materials, for applications ranging from engineering safety and lifetime assessments to supporting the development of advanced computational models.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the main nuclear characterization techniques used to study hydrogen absorption and desorption in materials. The various techniques (neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, ion-beams, positron annihilation spectroscopy) are explained in detail, and a variety of examples of recent research projects are given to show the unique advantage of these techniques to study hydrogen in materials. Most of these nuclear techniques require very specialized instrumentation, and there are only a handful of these instruments available worldwide. Therefore, the aim of this book is to reach out to a readership with a very diverse background in the physical sciences and engineering and a broad range of hydrogen-related research interests. The same technique can be used by researchers interested in the improvement of the performance of hydrogen storage materials and by those focused on hydrogen ingress causing embrittlement of metals. The emphasis of this book is to provide tutorial material on how to use nuclear characterization techniques for the investigation of hydrogen in materials – information that cannot readily be found in conference and regular research papers. Provides a comprehensive overview of nuclear techniques used for hydrogen-related research Explains all nuclear techniques in detail for the non-expert Covers the whole range of hydrogen-related research Features chapters written by world-renowned experts in nuclear technique and hydrogen-related research