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Application of surface science to the study of the corrosion of PWR primary circuit materials

Application of surface science to the study of the corrosion of PWR primary circuit materials
Application of surface science to the study of the corrosion of PWR primary circuit materials

This thesis describes a study of the corrosion and oxidation of PWR primary circuit materials using surface sensitive spectroscopic techniques. The aims of the project and related background material are presented in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2 the fundamental principles of the methods used are described and Chapter 3 describes the instruments and their basic operation. An XPS study of a number of mixed oxides of known composition is described in Chapter 4 and the information obtained is related to XPS measurements made on the surface of iron and nickel based alloys oxidised under controlled conditions. A SIMS study on these mixed transition metal oxides is described in Chapter 5. In Chapters 6 and 7 respectively the gaseous oxidation of stainless steel 304L and Inconel-690 is examined. Both alloys were oxidised at 600K in air with the composition of the oxide films formed studied by a range of surface spectroscopic methods. Further experimental work was performed on Inconel-690 to examine the effects of surface pretreatment and the effects of low oxygen partial pressures on the formation of oxide films at 600K. The incorporation of the radionucleide, cobalt-60, into the oxide films formed on structural components of a PWR, result in the build up of radiation fields. The work described in Chapter 8 examines a method of pretreating the surface of the alloy stainless steel 304L in order to reduce the level of cobalt adsorbed into the oxide film formed under simulated primary coolant conditions. In contrast, the work described in Chapters 9 and 10 examines treatments which have been developed to release cobalt adsorbed in existing oxide layers under reactor conditions.

University of Southampton
Harris, Steven John
Harris, Steven John

Harris, Steven John (1989) Application of surface science to the study of the corrosion of PWR primary circuit materials. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This thesis describes a study of the corrosion and oxidation of PWR primary circuit materials using surface sensitive spectroscopic techniques. The aims of the project and related background material are presented in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2 the fundamental principles of the methods used are described and Chapter 3 describes the instruments and their basic operation. An XPS study of a number of mixed oxides of known composition is described in Chapter 4 and the information obtained is related to XPS measurements made on the surface of iron and nickel based alloys oxidised under controlled conditions. A SIMS study on these mixed transition metal oxides is described in Chapter 5. In Chapters 6 and 7 respectively the gaseous oxidation of stainless steel 304L and Inconel-690 is examined. Both alloys were oxidised at 600K in air with the composition of the oxide films formed studied by a range of surface spectroscopic methods. Further experimental work was performed on Inconel-690 to examine the effects of surface pretreatment and the effects of low oxygen partial pressures on the formation of oxide films at 600K. The incorporation of the radionucleide, cobalt-60, into the oxide films formed on structural components of a PWR, result in the build up of radiation fields. The work described in Chapter 8 examines a method of pretreating the surface of the alloy stainless steel 304L in order to reduce the level of cobalt adsorbed into the oxide film formed under simulated primary coolant conditions. In contrast, the work described in Chapters 9 and 10 examines treatments which have been developed to release cobalt adsorbed in existing oxide layers under reactor conditions.

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Published date: 1989

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Local EPrints ID: 461491
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/461491
PURE UUID: f8983a18-5900-4689-9552-2566efb2fe0f

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:47
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:47

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Author: Steven John Harris

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