Magnetron sputtered thin-film coating for enhanced corrosion performance of reactor materials

High-temperature zirconium-steam oxidation can lead to catastrophic failure of fuel cladding as well as an excess production to heat and hydrogen gas. This reaction forms a thick oxide layer that limits the capability of the cladding to transfer heat to the surrounding coolant. Development of materials with enhanced corrosion resistance aims to improve the safety of reactors under loss-of-coolant accident scenarios (LOCA). There are two possible solutions: alternative cladding materials (Fe CrAl, SiC, etc) or thins-film coatings. Application of a protective thin-film coatings (~ 1-10 micrometers) is advantageous in reactor designs using natural uranium, (i.e. CANDU, Small Modulator Reactors), where corrosion protection may be improved during normal and/or accident conditions with limited penalties on neutron economy and reactor performance.