Correlation of heat treatment and corrosion behavior of Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe-Cu alloys

The corrosion resistance of Zr-1N-1Sn-0.3Fe-0.1Cu and Zr-0.2Nb-1.3Sn-0.4Fe- 0.2Cu alloys in relation to heat treatment was evaluated. In Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.3 Fe0.1Cu alloy, the final heat treatment at 480 degrees C significantly show ed an improvement in the corrosion resistance, possibly due to the formatio n of Nb-containing precipitates. But the corrosion behavior was not signifi cantly influenced by aging at 580 degrees C. In Zr-0.2Nb-1.3Sn-0.4Fe-0.2Cu alloy, the effect of aging on the corrosion resistance was shown not to dep end on the final heat treatment temperature. Aging generally decreased the corrosion resistance, possibly owing to the increase of the precipitate siz e. The composition of the precipitates was observed to remain almost unchan ged during aging. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.