On hydrogen adsorption by zirconium alloys at elevated temperature

The ability is studied of Zr and some of its alloys to absorb hydrogen at an elevated temperature, and also the structure of hydrogen-containing metals and the nature of hydrogen distribution in them. As regards their hydrogen-absorbing ability, zirconium-containing alloys can be arranged in the following series (in descending order): zircaloy-2, augennite, electrolytic zirconium, Zr + 1% Nb, Zr + 2,5% Nb. With hydrogen content of 0.01-0.03 wt.%, a new phase appears in all the investigated zirconium materials, which exists in the form of scattered elongated hydride inclusions. Zr-Nb alloys with a hydrogen content within 0.01-0.3 wt.% show an increased (as compared with the other alloys) content of hydrogen in the α-phase. In alloys with a high hydrogen content (1.1 - 1.4 wt.%) its distribution is more uniform