FTIR spectroscopy and sorption of water vapour as methods of identification of hydrated zirconium dioxide on a corrosion layer of zirconium alloy

The OH bands present in FTIR spectra of the model layers of hydrated ZrO2 of gel character have been found also in corrosion layers after the exposition in autoclave. This hydration ability of crystalline ZrO2 has been confirmed by sorption of water vapour on its deeply cleaned surface. From the interpretation of sorption isotherms, strong interaction of water molecules with the surface of the layer is evident pointing to a chemisorption reaction.