Corrosion of zirconium alloys in concentrated lithium hydroxide solutions

► Zry-4, Zr-2.5Nb (PT) and Zr-1Nb were tested in steam and in LiOH solutions at high temperature. ► Oxide barrier layer may be present in Zr-Nb alloys even after 16 h in 1 M LiOH. ► In 1 M LiOH, the hydrogen uptake of Zr-Nb alloys is lower than that of Zry-4. ► The β-Zr phase amount in Zr-1Nb improves the oxide thickness and hydrogen uptake.