Deuterium depth distributions in oxidizedZr-2.5wt.% Nb measured by nuclear reaction analysis

Abstract Deuterium depth distributions were measured in Zr-2.5wt.% Nb pressure tube material which had been oxidized in air or in D 2 O steam. Oxidation in air at 400°C of deuterided samples resulted in the formation of a sub-oxide peak in the deuterium distribution. In addition to this feature, the present study shows that a very low deuterium atomic fraction is present in the oxide, 0.0001 deuterium per zirconium atom, and sometimes deuterium depletion is also observed beneath the sub-oxide peak. Oxidation in D 2 O steam at 490°C resulted in deuterium distributions which depend strongly on the specific corrosion conditions. The deuterium depth profiles and their relation to the interfacial region are discussed.