Effect of Water Radiolysis on Corrosion: Steel, Cobalt and Nickel Alloys

Abstract

Steel, cobalt and nickel alloys are used in the coolant system (or primary heat transport system) of a nuclear power plant. To understand the effect of γ-radiation on the corrosion mechanism of these alloys, a combination of electrochemical measurements and surface analyses as a function of the water chemistry, with and without γ-radiation present, were performed. Results to date have shown that γ-radiation has a major impact on the corrosion process by changing the corrosion potential in a system. This determines the nature of the oxide phase (chemical state and morphology) that forms on a corroding alloy surface.