HVOF-sprayed Cr-coating on Zircaloy-4 fuel cladding for accident-tolerant fuel applications

This study represents the steam-oxidation testing of High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) sprayed pure chromium (Cr) coatings on Zircaloy-4 cladding substrates for accident-tolerant-fuel (ATF) claddings. The research aims to address the critical need for improved accident tolerance in fuel cladding materials, particularly considering severe nuclear accidents. For the first time, pure Cr coatings, applied through HVOF spraying are investigated for their potential to provide enhanced oxidation resistance under high temperature steam conditions, which are representative of loss-of-coolant accident scenarios. The studies focus on the microstructural analysis, oxidation kinetics, and mechanical properties of the Cr-coated Zircaloy-4 cladding substrates when subjected to steam oxidation at temperature 1200°C.

Keywords: Accident-Tolerant-Fuel-Cladding; Chromium; HVOF; High-temperature steam-oxidation