Mechanisms of corrosion layer formation during zirconium immersion in a (Fe)-bearing glass melt

The kinetics and mechanism of pure zirconium corrosion in an iron-bearing borosilicate glass melt are investigated from 1230 to 1418 °C. The influence of immersion time and temperature on the corrosion layer morphologies is discussed. The corrosion mechanism is a multi-step process and is described using the Zr–Si–O–B phase diagram. Boron and silicon species contained in the melt are reduced at the zirconium contact and ZrSisBb intermetallic compounds are formed while the Zr substrate is oxidized into ZrOx. When the local melt fO2 value induces the Fe0 precipitation, complex ZrSisBbFef compounds are formed. The last step consists in the oxidation of ZrOx into ZrO2.