Effect of Lithium Hydroxide on Corrosion Rate of Zirconium—2.5 Wt% Niobium in 340 C Water^✫

In a study of corrosion characteristics of Zr-2.5 Wt% Nb in 0.0005M to 1.0M aqueous solutions of LiOH, the corrosion kinetics, scale morphology, and amount of hydrogen absorbed were followed as a function of time. For compaison, Zircaloy-2 was exposed to the same environment. Higher corrosion rates and lower hydrogen absorption by the Zr-2.5 Wt% Nb alloy are explained on the basis of a difference in the scale morphology caused by hydrogen evolution.