Corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy in simulated nuclear accident environments regarding the chemical effects in GSI-191

Da Wang; Amanda Leong; Qiufeng Yang; Jinsuo Zhang

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Nov 2022)

Corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy in simulated nuclear accident environments regarding the chemical effects in GSI-191

Da Wang,
Amanda Leong,
Qiufeng Yang,
Jinsuo Zhang

Affiliations

Da Wang: Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China; Nuclear Material and Fuel Cycle Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA; School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
Amanda Leong: Nuclear Material and Fuel Cycle Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
Qiufeng Yang: Nuclear Material and Fuel Cycle Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
Jinsuo Zhang: Nuclear Material and Fuel Cycle Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 54, no. 11
pp. 4062 – 4071

Abstract

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Long-term aluminum (Al) corrosion tests were designed to investigate the condition that would generate severe Al corrosion and precipitation. Buffer agents of sodium tetraborate (NaTB), trisodium phosphate (TSP) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were adopted. The insulation materials, fiberglass and calcium silicate (Ca-sil), were examined to explore their effects on Al corrosion. The results show that significant precipitates were formed in both NaTB/TSP-buffered solutions at high pH. The precipitates formed in NaTB solution raise more concerns on chemical effects in GSI-191. A passivation layer formed on the surfaces of coupon in solution with the presence of insulations could effectively mitigate Al corrosion. The Fe-enriched intermetallic particles (IPs) embedded in coupon appeared to serve as seeds to readily induce precipitation via providing extra area for heterogeneous Al hydroxide precipitation. X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate that the precipitates are mainly boehmite (γ-AlOOH) and no direct evidence confirms the presence of sodium aluminum silicate or calcium phosphate.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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