Corrosion-electrochemical properties of zirconium intermetallics

Alpha-zirconium is a very poor solvent for most alloying metals. Moreover, it has a high affinity for these metals. Consequently, intermetallics are easily formed and highly visible in zirconium and its alloys. Many researchers believe that the corrosion resistance of zirconium and its alloys depends strongly on the distribution and morphology of these intermetallics. Corrosion problems, such as nodular corrosion and intergranular corrosion, are often associated with intermetallics. Numerous papers have been published concerning the role of intermetallics in nodular corrosion of Zircaloys. Several mechanisms have been proposed for nodule initiation and growth. They include one or more of the following factors: local solute depletion, electrochemical effects, oxide ductility, electronic and ionic conductivities of the surface oxide, induced stresses, and oxide structure transformation. However, very limited studies have been directly done on the corrosion properties of these intermetallics. Therefore six intermetallics (Sr2Fe, Zr3Fe4Cr2, Zr10Fe3Ni2, Zr4Sn, ZrCr2, and 3Zr2Ni) were prepared for corrosion and electrochemical tests. These intermetallics were chosen since tin, iron, chromium, and nickel are the principal alloying elements in Zircaloys, and the selected intermetallics have been identified in the alloy matrix