High-temperature Oxidation Behavior of Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo in Steam Ambient

The oxidation characteristics for Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo in the temperature range of 700-1200°C under steam supply condition were investigated by using a modified thermo-gravimetric analyzer. The specimens were oxidized for 3600 s at each temperature and then quenched in a furnace. The oxidation rate constants were measured from the weight gains to evaluate the oxidation behavior in Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo. The weight gain rates of Zirlo were lower than those of Zircaloy-4, leading to the low rate constants. The different oxidation behaviors between both cladding materials were considered to be due to the difference in their chemical compositions.