Oxidation of Zircaloy-4 by oxygen and the production of water

The interaction of isotopic oxygen (18O2) with Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) at 150 and 300 K has been studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) methods. AES reveals the oxidation of the Zry-4 surface, reflected in shifts of the Zr(MNV) and Zr(MNN) features by about 5.5 and 3.0 eV, respectively, for both adsorption temperatures. The O(KLL)/Zr(MNN) Auger peak-to-peak height ratios as a function of exposure show the same trends at both temperatures. Following 18O2 adsorption at 150 or 300 K, TPD experiments show hydrogen desorption near 400 K that is attributed to the presence of a surface-stabilized form of hydrogen. Additionally, water (H218O and H216O) desorption below 200 K and above 700 K is observed after 150 K oxygen adsorption. However, after oxygen adsorption at 300 K the only significant desorption features are from isotopic water (H218O). These findings indicate that mass transport involving the near-surface region contributes to the observed desorption, and that this behavior is dependent on the original adsorption temperature. Charging experiments using D2 prior to and after 18O2 adsorption were also performed and support our conclusions about the role of surface–subsurface mass transport in this system.