Nanocrystalline diamond protects Zr cladding surface against oxygen and hydrogen uptake: nuclear fuel durability enhancement

0477120 - FZÚ 2018 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Škarohlíd, J. - Ashcheulov, Petr - Škoda, R. - Taylor, Andrew - Čtvrtlík, R. - Tomaštík, J. - Fendrych, František - Kopeček, Jaromír - Cháb, Vladimír - Cichoň, Stanislav - Sajdl, P. - Macák, J. - Xu, P. - Partezana, J.M. - Lorinčík, J. - Prehradná, J. - Steinbrück, M. - Kratochvílová, Irena
Nanocrystalline diamond protects Zr cladding surface against oxygen and hydrogen uptake: nuclear fuel durability enhancement.
Scientific Reports. Roč. 7, Jul (2017), 1-14, č. článku 6469. ISSN 2045-2322. E-ISSN 2045-2322
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LO1409; GA MŠMT LM2015088; GA ČR(CZ) GA15-05095S; GA ČR(CZ) GA16-03085S; GA TA ČR TA04020156
Grant - others:FUNBIO(XE) CZ.2.16/3.1.00/21568
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : nanocrystalline diamond * zirconium alloys * corrosion
OECD category: Coating and films
Impact factor: 4.122, year: 2017

Zr alloy samples were coated with nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) layers of different thicknesses, grown in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition apparatus. In addition to showing that such an NCD layer prevents the Zr alloy from directly interacting with water, we show that carbon released from the NCD film enters the underlying Zr material and changes its properties, such that uptake of oxygen and hydrogen is significantly decreased. After 100-170 days of exposure to hot water at 360 degrees C, the oxidation of the NCD-coated Zr plates was typically decreased by 40%. Protective NCD layers may prolong the lifetime of nuclear cladding and consequently enhance nuclear fuel burnup. NCD may also serve as a passive element for nuclear safety. NCD-coated ZIRLO claddings have been selected as a candidate for Accident Tolerant Fuel in commercially operated reactors in 2020.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0273504