Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Al and Cr Content on Air and Steam Oxidation of FeCrAl Alloys and Commercial APMT Alloy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Oxidation of Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To develop the next generation of accident-tolerant fuel cladding for light-water nuclear reactors, wrought FeCrAlY alloys with varying amounts of Cr and Al and commercial Kanthal APMT alloy were evaluated for short-term (4 h) oxidation resistance in steam and air at 1200–1475 °C. Model alloys with lower Cr contents and higher Al contents were evaluated as lower Cr contents are desirable for radiation damage resistance during operation. As expected, a synergistic effect was found between the Cr and Al contents to enable protective Al2O3 formation under these conditions. Characterization of the alumina scales formed in steam found that the scale morphology was affected by the alloy Y content and detailed scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) detected Y segregation along scale grain boundaries at 1200 °C. However, after 4 h at 1475 °C, Y and Hf were not segregated to the oxide grain boundaries formed on APMT and the scale had a single layer structure. Compared to oxidation in air, STEM characterization of the outer scale showed differences in the Fe and Cr distributions in steam.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T. Cheng, J. R. Keiser, M. P. Brady, K. A. Terrani and B. A. Pint, Oxidation of fuel cladding candidate materials in steam environments at high temperature and pressure. Journal of Nuclear Materials 427, 2012 (396–400).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. B. A. Pint, K. A. Terrani, M. P. Brady, T. Cheng and J. R. Keiser, High Temperature Oxidation of Fuel Cladding Candidate Materials in Steam-Hydrogen Environments. Journal of Nuclear Materials 440, 2013 (420–427).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. K. A. Terrani, S. J. Zinkle and L. L. Snead, Advanced Oxidation-Resistant Iron-Based Alloys for LWR Fuel Cladding. J. Nucl. Mater. 448, 2014 (420–435).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. B. A. Pint, S. Dryepondt, K. A. Unocic and D. T. Hoelzer, Development of ODS FeCrAl for Compatibility in Fusion and Fission Applications. JOM 66, 2014 (2458–2466).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. B. A. Pint, K. A. Unocic and K. A. Terrani, The Effect of Steam on the High Temperature Oxidation Behavior of Alumina-Forming Alloys. Materials at High Temperature 32, 2015 (28–35).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Yamamoto, B. A. Pint, K. A. Terrani, K. G. Field, Y. Yang and L. L. Snead, Development and Property Evaluation of Nuclear Grade Wrought FeCrAl Fuel Cladding for Light Water Reactors. Journal of Nuclear Materials 467, 2015 (703–716).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. K. G. Field, M. N. Gussev, Y. Yamamoto and L. L. Snead, Deformation behavior of laser welds in high temperature oxidation resistant Fe-Cr-Al alloys for fuel cladding applications. Journal of Nuclear Materials 454, 2014 (352–358).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. B. A. Pint, K. A. Terrani, Y. Yamamoto and L. L. Snead, Material Selection for Accident Tolerant Fuel Cladding. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions 2E, 2015 (190–196).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. R. B. Rebak, Alloy Selection for Accident Tolerant Fuel Cladding in Commercial Light Water Reactors. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions E. 2E, 2015 (197–207).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. K. A. Terrani, B. A. Pint, Y. J. Kim, K. A. Unocic, Y. Yang, C. M. Silva, H. M. Meyer and R. B. Rebak, Uniform corrosion of FeCrAl alloys in LWR coolant environments. Journal of Nuclear Materials 479, 2016 (36–47).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M. Mathon, Y. De Carlan, G. Geoffroy, X. Averty, A. Alamo and C. De Novion, Journal of Nuclear Materials 312, 2003 (236).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. P. D. Edmondson, S. A. Briggs, Y. Yamamoto, R. H. Howard, K. Sridharan, K. A. Terrani and K. G. Field, Irradiation-enhanced α′ precipitation in model FeCrAl alloys. Scripta Materialia 116, 2016 (112–116).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. F. H. Stott, G. C. Wood and J. Stringer, The Influence of Alloying Elements on the Development and Maintenance of Protective Scales. Oxidation of Metals 44, 1995 (113–145).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. W. J. Quadakkers, H. Holzbrecher, K. G. Briefs and H. Beske, Differences in Growth Mechanisms of Oxide Scales Formed on ODS and Conventional Wrought Alloys. Oxidation of Metals 32, 1989 (67–88).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. B. A. Pint, Experimental Observations in Support of the Dynamic-Segregation Theory to Explain the Reactive-Element Effect. Oxidation of Metals 45, 1996 (1–32).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. C. Mennicke, E. Schumann, M. Rühle, R. J. Hussey, G. I. Sproule and M. J. Graham, The Effect of Yttrium on the Growth Process and Microstructure of α-Al2O3 on FeCrAl. Oxidation of Metals 49, 1998 (455–466).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. F. A. Golightly, F. H. Stott and G. C. Wood, The Influence of Yttrium Additions on the Oxide-Scale Adhesion to an Iron-Chromium-Aluminum Alloy. Oxidation of Metals 10, 1976 (163–187).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. B. A. Pint and K. L. More, Characterization of Alumina Interfaces in TBC Systems. J. Mater. Sci. 44, 2009 (1676–1686).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. V. Kochubey, D. Naumenko, E. Wessel, J. Le Coze, L. Singheiser, H. Al-Baidary, G. J. Tatlock and W. J. Quadakkers, Evidence of Cr-Carbide Formation at the Scale/Metal Interface During Oxidation of FeCrAl Alloys. Mater. Letters 60, 2006 (1564–1568).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. K. A. Unocic, D. T. Hoelzer and B. A. Pint, Microstructure and environmental resistance of low Cr ODS FeCrAl. Materials at High Temperatures 32, 2015 (123–132).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. C. S. Tedmon, The Effect of Oxide Volatilization on the Oxidation Kinetics of Cr and Fe-Cr Alloys. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 113, 1966 (766–768).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. B. A. Pint, A. J. Garratt-Reed and L. W. Hobbs, Possible Role of the Oxygen Potential Gradient in Enhancing the Diffusion of Foreign Ions on α-Al2O3 Grain Boundaries. Journal of the American Ceramic Society 81, 1998 (305–314).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. B. A. Pint and L. W. Hobbs, The Formation of α-Al2O3 Scales at 1500°C. Oxidation of Metals 41, 1994 (203–233).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. C. W. Li and W. D. Kingery, “Solute Segregation at Grain Boundaries in Polycrystalline Al2O3”, in Structure and Properties of MgO and Al2O3 Ceramics. Advances in Ceramics 10, 1984 (368–378).

    Google Scholar 

  25. E. Wessel, V. Kochubey, D. Naumenko, L. Niewolak, L. Singheiser and W. J. Quadakkers, Effect of Zr addition on the microstructure of the alumina scales on FeCrAlY-alloys. Scripta Materialia 51, 2004 (987–992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. C. S. Wukusick and J. F. Collins, An Iron-Chromium-Aluminum Alloy Containing Yttrium. Materials Research Standard 4, 1964 (637–646).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Y. Yamamoto, M.N. Gussev, B.K. Kim, T.S. Byun (2015) Optimized properties on base metal and thin-walled tube of Generation II ATF FeCrAl, ORNL/TM-2015/414, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.

  28. E. J. Opila and D. L. Myers, Alumina volatility in water vapor at elevated temperatures. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 87, 2004 (1701–1705).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Research sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Advanced Fuel Campaign of the Fuel Cycle R&D program. The microscopy was supported by using instrumentation (FEI Talos F200X S/TEM) provided by the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Fuel Cycle R&D Program and the Nuclear Science User Facilities. D.W. Coffey, T.S. Geer, T.M. Lowe, M.S. Stephens, K.R. Addams, M. Howell, T.L. Jordan assisted with the experimental work. R.R. Unocic and K.A. Terrani provided comments on the results and manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831-6132, USA

    Kinga A. Unocic, Yukinori Yamamoto & Bruce A. Pint

Authors
  1. Kinga A. Unocic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yukinori Yamamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bruce A. Pint
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kinga A. Unocic.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Unocic, K.A., Yamamoto, Y. & Pint, B.A. Effect of Al and Cr Content on Air and Steam Oxidation of FeCrAl Alloys and Commercial APMT Alloy. Oxid Met 87, 431–441 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11085-017-9745-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11085-017-9745-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation