Site-specific Nanoscale Characterization of Zirconium Hydrides in the Hydride Rim Structure of Hydrogen-charged Zircaloy-4 Cladding

Abstract

Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes were hydrogen-charged using a static pressure hydrogen charging method to experimentally produce a zirconium-hydride rim structure similar to that observed in Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes after operation in commercial light-water nuclear reactors. Detailed characterization was performed using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM). By mapping the position of the plasmon peak in the low-loss EELS spectrum, it was determined that the zirconium hydrides formed were predominantly solid δ-phase zirconium hydrides. 4D-STEM was used to generate phase and strain maps at nanoscale. The interactions between two zirconium hydride platelets less than 200 nm apart leads to the localized lattice rotations and possible phase change, revealing a potential hydride growth mechanism.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Comments

U.S. Department of Energy, Grant None

Keywords and Phrases

4D-STEM; EELS; Hydride; Zircaloy

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1044-5803

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2025

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