Effect of Aluminum, Chromium, and Iron Doping on the Oxidation Resistance of Zirconium

Abstract

The influence of aluminum, chromium, and iron doping on the oxidation resistance of zirconium is studied. It is shown that a dense oxide film starts forming in the oxidation of the alloy containing 8 wt.% aluminum at 700 °С regardless of its phase composition and ensures high oxidation resistance. At lower temperatures, to achieve the heat resistance comparable with the heat resistance of the É110 industrial alloy, the content of the Zr–Al solid solution based on α-Zr, which cannot contain more than 4 wt.% Al, should be minimum. Additions of 1% Cr and 1% Fe can be used to harden the Zr–8Al alloy without a significant decrease in its oxidation resistance.