Hydrogen contribution to the thermal expansion of hydrided Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes

This study is focused on the hydrogen-induced dimensional change or ”growth” of zirconium alloys. Dilatometric experiments were performed on samples taken from a unirradiated Zircaloy-4 (Zy-4) fuel cladding loaded up to 940 wppm hydrogen. Samples were taken in the axial direction of the tube or at 45° to the axial and transverse directions. The results indicate that hydrogen-induced expansion is anisotropic. Theoretical expansion calculations were carried out considering the partition of hydrogen in solid solution and hydrides together with the material crystallographic texture. Hydride-induced expansion was calculated using two different assumptions reported in the literature, namely ”Pure Lattice Transformation Strains” (PLTS) and ”Pure Shear Transformation Strains” (PSTS). Calculations based on the PSTS hypothesis satisfactorily predicted the anisotropy observed in the dilatometric curve. Under this assumption, the contribution of hydrides to the axial growth of high-burnup Zy-4 cladding is limited to 12%. This study shows it is important to consider the respective contribution of hydrogen in both states, together with the material crystallographic texture, to understand the dilatometric behavior of hydrided zirconium alloys.