A NEW TECHNIQUE OF CORROSION PROTECTION OF ALUMINUM-ALLOYS IN THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE WATER OF NUCLEAR-POWER-PLANTS

The results of the investigation of a principally new class of high-te mperature multipurpose inhibitors, namely, isopoly and heteropoly comp ounds of tungsten, are presented. A technique of the corrosion protect ion of aluminum alloys in high-temperature water is proposed, based on the preliminary thermochemical treatment of the alloy surface in the solutions of the tungsten compounds. By analogy with ionic implantatio n, a thin tungsten-containing layer is created on the metal surface. T he layer has a peculiar structure and protective properties, which all ows one to decrease the corrosion rate of aluminum alloys in water at 250-300 degrees C to a degree typical of zirconium alloys.