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Thermal stability and performance of optimized ZrCx diffusion barriers in ceramic coating systems for ATF applications |
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| Authors: | Lina Chen Yiming Lei Wenli Li Jie Zhang Jingyang Wang |
| Affiliation: | 1. Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China;2. School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, China;3. Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China |
| Abstract: | Surface-modified Zr alloy claddings with advanced ceramic coatings are promising materials for accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) systems to meet stringent safety regulations concerning light water reactors. The applications of ceramic coatings are, however, limited as a result of inferior thermal stability when used in conjunction with Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) substrates. Herein, the thermal stability of sub-stoichiometric zirconium carbide barrier layers as a function of composition was studied. Integrated ceramic coatings comprising ZrC0.55 diffusion barriers and a Cr2AlC top layer were synthesized via a magnetron sputtering method. After rapid thermal annealing, the ZrC0.55 barrier layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm effectively prevented the inter-diffusion between Cr2AlC and the Zry-4 substrate, thereby ensuring retention of the structural integrity of the integrated ceramic coating system for ATF applications. |
| Keywords: | accident-tolerant fuels diffusion barriers sub-stoichiometric zirconium carbide coatings the integrated ceramic coating system thermal stability |