Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Zircaloy−2 and −4 are used as nuclear fuel cladding. Both alloys are more than ninety-eight percent zirconium and are corrosion resistant to various media. Electrochemical measurements using polarization techniques have been made on these alloys in aqueous media with a pH of 8.5 and varying ionic concentration (1X and 10X) at temperatures of 22°C and 95°C. Results showed that under the test conditions of the study these alloys passivated and had negligible corrosion rates, but there were some variations in passivation due to surface preparation and some crevice corrosion was observed. Data are presented and discussed in terms of passivity, breakdown potential and susceptibility to localized corrosion.