Plasma-induced formation of hydrogen resistant oxide layers on zirconium surface

Abstract

Abstract Features of plasma-induced formation of the surface oxide layers on zirconium alloy E110 (Zr–1%Nb) as well as hydrogen resistant properties of these layers are studied. It is shown that irradiation of the E110 sample with 1 keV ions of He + O2 plasma produces the oxide layer depleted by oxygen nearby the surface. The onset of the intensive hydrogen penetration into the ion-irradiated sample during the steam test (673 K, 0.1 MPa) appears to occur 1500 hours later than into the untreated one.