Defense Date
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
First Advisor
Carlos Castano Londono
Abstract
Chromium (Cr)-Coated Zirconium (Zr) alloy and Iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) Alloys have been proposed as accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding replacements for traditional Zr-alloy cladding. Previous research has been conducted showing higher oxidation resistances of Cr-Coated Zr and FeCrAl in air and some in a steam environment, but there is a present lack of studies that include a high heating rate, high temperature, low time, and quenching, which are crucial elements of certain accident scenarios. A testing apparatus with induction heating was used to simulate accident scenarios. Two coating methods for Cr-coated Zircaloy 4, powder vapor deposition (PVD) and cold spray (CS), and four FeCrAl Alloys, APMT, C26M, FA-SMT, and PM-C26M, were rapidly heated to high temperatures in a steam environment with a heating rate of 93°C/s. Targeting temperatures of 1200°C, 1300°C, 1400°C, and 1500°C were used, with a 1min hold time, followed by quick quenching in water. PVD samples showed an evolution of a protective chromia layer from 1200°C to 1400°C, and CS samples showed a similar evolution from 1200°C to 1300°C. APMT samples showed a small protective Al2O3 oxide layer formed between 1200°C and 1300◦C, along with a surface layer of chromia. C26M, FA-SMT, and PM-C26M samples all showed a thin protective Al2O3 oxide layer at the surface from 1200°C to 1300°C. All FeCrAl and cold-spray samples failed to survive beyond 1400◦C and burst before reaching the target temperature. PVD failed to reach 1500◦C and burst before a stable temperature was achieved.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
12-16-2025
Included in
Metallurgy Commons, Nuclear Engineering Commons, Other Materials Science and Engineering Commons