Hydrogen absorption by zirconium alloys at high temperatures

At high temperatures, e.g. during a hypothetical severe accident, zirconium and its alloys are not stable to other materials and to oxidising atmospheres. Exothermic reactions with steam cause the production of hydrogen which will be released to the atmosphere and, thus, endanger the containment or may be absorbed by the remaining metal. The hydrogen solubility in Zircaloy-4 and Zr-1Nb was measured in the temperature range of 1230-1730 K and at hydrogen partial pressures between 10 and 100 kPa. The parameters of the Sieverts constant were determined. No significant differences between the two alloys were observed. The hydrogen solubility of oxygen containing Zircaloy-4 decreases with increasing oxygen content. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.