Insulated protective coating to moderate stress corrosion cracking of metal components in high temperature water

摘要

A method for mitigating crack initiation and propagation on the surface of metal components in a water-cooled nuclear reactor. An electrically insulating coating is applied on the surfaces of IGSCC-susceptible reactor components. The preferred electrically insulating material is yttria-stabilized zirconia. The presence of an electrically insulating coating on the surface of the metal components shifts the corrosion potential in the negative direction without the addition of hydrogen and in the absence of noble metal catalyst. Corrosion potentials /=-0.5 Vshe can be achieved even at high oxidant concentrations and in the absence of hydrogen.