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PUBLICATIONS

Interaction of Zinc Vapor with Zircaloy and the Effect of Zinc Vapor on the Mechanical Properties of Zircaloy

Published

Author(s)

Robert J. Schaefer, Richard J. Fields, Maureen E. Williams

Abstract

Spent fuel rods removed from reactor cores are loaded under water into steel casks, which are then removed from the water, vacuum dried, and welded closed for dry storage. In some cases, the inside of the steel casks has been coated with zinc paint to prevent corrosion during the under-water phase of this process, and concern has risen that the zinc could react with the Zircaloy-4 cladding of the spent fuel, possibly leading to decreased mechanical strength. This project investigated the kinetics of the reaction between Zircaloy-4 and zinc vapor, and the mechanical properties of Zircaloy-4 which had been exposed to zinc vapor.
Citation
NUREG
Pub Type
Journals

Keywords

intermetallic compounds, mechanical properties, nuclear fuel storage, zinc, Zurcaloy

Citation

Schaefer, R. , Fields, R. and Williams, M. (2008), Interaction of Zinc Vapor with Zircaloy and the Effect of Zinc Vapor on the Mechanical Properties of Zircaloy, NUREG (Accessed April 24, 2024)

Created October 16, 2008