Zirconium metal-water oxidation kinetics. V. Oxidation of Zircaloy in high pressure steam. [PWR]

A series of scoping tests to determine the influence of steam pressure on the isothermal oxidation kinetics of Zircaloy-4 PWR tubing was undertaken. The oxidation experiments were conducted in flowing steam at 3.45, 6.90, and 10.34 MPa (500, 1000, and 1500 psi) at 905/sup 0/C (1661/sup 0/F), and at 3.45 and 6.90 MPa at 1101/sup 0/C (2014/sup 0/F). A comparison of the results of these experiments with those obtained for oxidation in steam at atmospheric pressure under similar conditions indicated that measurable enhancement of the oxidation rate occurred with increasing pressure at 905/sup 0/C, but not at 1100/sup 0/C.