Sample environment for in situ synchrotron corrosion studies of materials in extreme environments

Mohamed S Elbakhshwan; Simerjeet K Gill; Arthur T Motta; Randy Weidner; Thomas Anderson; Lynne E Ecker

doi:10.1063/1.4964101

Sample environment for in situ synchrotron corrosion studies of materials in extreme environments

Rev Sci Instrum. 2016 Oct;87(10):105122. doi: 10.1063/1.4964101.

Authors

Mohamed S Elbakhshwan¹, Simerjeet K Gill¹, Arthur T Motta², Randy Weidner¹, Thomas Anderson¹, Lynne E Ecker¹

Affiliations

¹ Nuclear Science and Technology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
² Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.

PMID: 27802754
DOI: 10.1063/1.4964101

Abstract

A new in situ sample environment has been designed and developed to study the interfacial interactions of nuclear cladding alloys with high temperature steam. The sample environment is particularly optimized for synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies for in situ structural analysis. The sample environment is highly corrosion resistant and can be readily adapted for steam environments. The in situ sample environment design complies with G2 ASTM standards for studying corrosion in zirconium and its alloys and offers remote temperature and pressure monitoring during the in situ data collection. The use of the in situ sample environment is exemplified by monitoring the oxidation of metallic zirconium during exposure to steam at 350 °C. The in situ sample environment provides a powerful tool for fundamental understanding of corrosion mechanisms by elucidating the substoichiometric oxide phases formed during the early stages of corrosion, which can provide a better understanding of the oxidation process.