Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Accommodation of tin in tetragonal ZrO2

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Accommodation of tin in tetragonal ZrO2

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Close
Article number084901
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>28/02/2015
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Applied Physics
Issue number8
Volume117
Number of pages7
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Atomic scale computer simulations using density functional theory were used to investigate the behaviour of tin in the tetragonal phase oxide layer on Zr-based alloys. The Sn-Zr(x) defect was shown to be dominant across most oxygen partial pressures, with Sn-Zr '' charge compensated by V-O(center dot center dot) occurring at partial pressures below 10(-31) atm. Insertion of additional positive charge into the system was shown to significantly increase the critical partial pressure at which Sn-Zr '' is stable. Recently developed low-Sn nuclear fuel cladding alloys have demonstrated an improved corrosion resistance and a delayed transition compared to Sn-containing alloys, such as Zircaloy-4. The interaction between the positive charge and the tin defect is discussed in the context of alloying additions, such as niobium and their influence on corrosion of cladding alloys. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.