Kinetics of hydride precipitation near a crack tip zirconium (inter-american collarboration in materials research)

锆合金中氢的吸收和脆性氢化物的潜在析出是这些合金在核反应堆中使用时一个关键的寿命控制现象。这个项目代表了三个国家(加拿大、美国和阿根廷)关于锆力学性能的领先学术研究中心之间的新合作。这项研究将提供一个更好的了解氢化物对这些合金中裂纹扩展的影响。这项研究的长期影响将对核能和储氢应用都有潜在的用途。核能是加拿大发电技术组合中的一个重要组成部分。由于碳基燃料的财务和环境成本不断上升，其他发电技术正变得越来越重要。核能正在几个国家卷土重来，成为提供始终开启的电力供应组件的首选技术。

The absorption of hydrogen in zirconium alloys and the potential precipitation of brittle hydrides is a key life controlling phenomenon for these alloys when used in nuclear reactors.  This project represents a new collaboration between leading centres for academic research into the mechanical properties of zirconium in three countries (Canada, USA and Argentina).  This research will provide an improved understanding of the influence of hydrides on crack propagation in these alloys.  Longer term impacts of this research will have potential use on both nuclear power and hydrogen storage applications.Nuclear power represents an important component in the mix of power generation techniques in Canada.  With the rising financial and environmental costs of carbon based fuels, other power generation technologies are becoming more important.  Nuclear power is seeing a resurgence in several countries, as the technology of choice to provide that component of the power supply that is always on.