Zircalloy nodular corrosion analysis by image processing technique

The application of image processor for out-of-reactor studies of zircaloy-2 tube nodular corrosion is described, which permits to determine relative part of zircaloy surface area covered by nodules. A strict correlation between the part and increase in weight is established and a model of lens-like nodules is suggested. It is shown that the nodules are formed only at an early stage of corrosion, and then they only increase in the size