It was found that surface oxide which developed on zirconium in impure sodium significantly lowered the fatigue life at elevated temperatures. Hydrogen absorption, on the other hand, had little effect on the fatigue life at elevated temperatures but lowered the fatigue life at room temperature. Also, critical recrystallization which occurred above 950 F in zirconium (a phenomenon unrelated to the presence of sodium) reduced the fatigue life at elevated as well as low temperatures.
The effects attributable to sodium (i.e., the formation of surface oxide and absorption of reasonable amounts of hydrogen), did not significantly alter the tensile properties of zirconium at high temperatures. 6.3.20, 4.7, 3.5.8, 3.2.3
Subject
Grain size,
Materials,
Oxide formation,
Zirconium,
Mechanical failure,
Sodium,
Surface oxides,
Surface layers,
Oxygen,
Fatigue,
Cracks,
Grain,
Hydrogen
© 1961 National Association of Corrosion Engineers
1961
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