Mossbauer investigations of corrosion environment influence on Fe valence states in oxide films of zirconium alloys

Abstract

Mössbauer investigations about iron atom redistribution in oxide films of zirconium alloys subjected to corrosion at 500°C in pure oxygen and water pair have been analysed. The alloys were also subjected to autoclave conditions at a pressure of 10.0 MPa and autoclave conditions at 350°C and at a pressure of 16.8 MPa, using distilled water and water with additives of lithium and fluorine. It is shown that, depending on the corrosion environment, various compounds of iron, such as !-Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , and FeO, as solid solutions of iron in ZrO 2 are formed in oxide films.