Corrosion fatigue of zircalloy-4 in chloride medium

The fatigue behaviour of zircalloy-4 in a 0,5 M NaCl aqueous solution was studied. The tests were performed under potenciostatic control at room temperature and mean frequency of 80 hz. The tests have shown that zircalloy-4 does not have its fatigue life decreased under cathodic potencials action. The application of anodic potentials, however, has markedly influenced the life of the material. This influence is characteristic for a certain range of applied potential and cyclic stress level. It was shown that, for a maximum stress higher than yield stress and potential values higher than + 120 mV sub(sce), the life of the material was drastically reduced due to pit formation and intergranular attack. This 'critical' potential is, however, lower than the pit potential (approx. + 180 mV sub(sce)) obtained by the usual electrochemical methods. For maximum cyclic stress lower than the yield stress, the material did not fail even at potential values higher than the critical + 120 mV sub(sce). The application of potential values lower than + 120 mV sub(sce) led to an increase in the fatigue properties of the material, that is characterized by an increase in fatigue life as compared to that observed in air. This behaviour is attributed to the high velocity of repassivation presented by zircalloy-4. (Author)