In-situ neutron radiography investigations of hydrogen diffusion and absorption in zirconium alloys

The fast and non-destructive character of neutron radiography provides the possibility of in-situ investigations of hydrogen uptake and diffusion in zirconium alloys. A special reaction furnace with neutron transparent windows was constructed. The method of quantitative hydrogen determination by neutron transmission measurements was calibrated for each experimental run. Additionally, oxygen is absorbed in the alpha-Zr phase and precipitated in the oxide layer. The calibration of the correlation between hydrogen and oxygen concentrations and total neutron cross-sections at room temperature and between 1123 and 1623 K are described. Results of in-situ neutron radiography investigations of hydrogen diffusion and absorption are presented in this paper. A linear dependence of the total macroscopic neutron cross section on the H/Zr atomic ratio as well as on the oxygen concentration was found. No significant temperature dependence of the total neutron cross-sections of hydrogen dissolved in beta-Zr or oxygen dissolved in the alpha-Zr or precipitated in the oxide layer was found. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.