BASIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF THIN OXIDE LAYERS ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE OXIDE FILMS OF ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
- 1 The National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russia
Abstract
The structure and mechanical properties of the oxide films formed on zirconium alloys Zr – 1% Nb, Zr – 2,5% Nb upon autoclave tests at a temperature of 360oC and pressure of 18,6 MPa for 600 days were studied. Basic methodological approaches to the study of the structure and properties of thin oxide films were shown. The 10-15 µm thick oxide films of different structural types were shown to be formed on the specimens: the structures with predominately elongated grains and the layered structures. The structure of the oxide films subjected to loading determines both the crack formation stress and the character of fracture.