Study of carbon steel corrosion layer by X-ray diffraction and absorption methods

To predict the behavior of structural metallic materials into the CANDU nuclear reactor, the oxide films on the surface were growth in a controlled manner using an autoclave simulating the environment specific to the nuclear reactor. In order to establish the structural changes of the oxide films, the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) analysis were used. Analysis performed showed differences in morphology of the oxide films from carbon steel samples exposed under different conditions corresponding to primary and secondary circuits in CANDU nuclear reactor. The oxide phases were identified and the thicknesses of the films were calculated. The agreement between results obtained by these methods was discussed according to the microstructure of the samples.