Effect of Zr2+ irradiation on microstructure and corrosion behavior of 90Nb-10Zr binary alloy in 360 °C lithiated water

Abstract The effect of Zr2+ irradiation on microstructure and corrosion in 360 °C lithiated water with 0.01 mol/L LiOH was investigated on a 90Nb-10Zr binary alloy prepared by referring to the β-Nb phase in zirconium alloys. The results revealed that the irradiation induced a ZrO2 film on the specimen surface and increased dislocations in matrix. After corrosion, oxide scales with a three-layer structure were formed regardless of irradiation. However, the scale formed on the irradiated surface was relatively thin presumably due to the ZrO2 film. A hypothesis for the corrosion mechanism of β-Nb phase in lithiated water upon irradiation was proposed.