Effect of alloyed Ti on the microstructure and corrosion characteristics of a U–Ti alloy in a hydrogen environment

Abstract The influence of alloyed titanium element on the microstructure and the hydrogen corrosion properties of 500 °C/2 h aged U–0.79 wt.% Ti alloys was investigated. The results demonstrated that 500 °C/2 h aging treatment markedly decreased the hydriding corrosion resistance of U–Ti alloys. The microstructure and chemical compositions of U–0.79Ti alloys exerted a significant influence on the initial hydride nucleation sites and pitting corrosion behavior. A model was proposed to elucidate the formation mechanism of the preferential hydriding on the so-called “α+U 2 Ti” mixed phase area.