The influence of composition of nuclear zirconium alloys on in-service corrosion performance

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Zirconium alloys are widely used as structural materials in electricity generating power plants because of their acceptable corrosion resistance. However there are key processes that limit the lifetime of critical components in service, and the mechanisms of these processes are not fully understood. This project will use and develop transmission electron microscope and atom probe tomography techniques to study how the microstructure and local chemistry of commercial zirconium alloys is modified by the conditions experienced in service. The student will concentrate on the rate of formation of precipitates in the metal matrix and how these are incorporated into growing oxide layers in alloys of different starting composition, and will use this data to formulate models for the dominant degradation processes.