About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Alloys IV
|
| Presentation Title |
Physical Metallurgy of Fe–Cr–Al: Integrating Phase Stability, Precipitation Kinetics, and Oxidation Behavior |
| Author(s) |
Andrew K. Hoffman, Daozheng Li, Yuhan Li, Ziang Yu, Kevin Field, Wei Xiong, Yongfeng Zhang |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Andrew K. Hoffman |
| Abstract Scope |
Commercial Zr alloys, though state-of-the-art, exhibit poor high-temperature steam oxidation resistance under accident conditions. Cr-based coatings resist oxidation in PWRs but destabilize in BWR environments: above the Cr₂O₃ stability window, CrOOH forms and dissolves. Fe–Cr–Al(Mo) alloys deliver exceptional high-temperature steam corrosion resistance yet suffer radiation-induced α′ nanophase embrittlement. These observations motivate the development of novel alloy chemistries tailored for BWR core conditions. Here, we apply a combined CALPHAD thermodynamic framework, diffusion-kinetics modeling, and advanced experimental characterization to design and validate candidate alloys that mitigate high-temperature steam oxidation and radiation embrittlement. By integrating lessons learned from Cr coatings and Fe–Cr–Al systems, we identify optimized compositions and processing pathways that balance phase stability, oxide-scale durability, and mechanical integrity under simultaneous high-temperature, radiation, and aqueous corrosion exposure. Our results point toward next-generation, nonconventional alloy claddings with enhanced accident tolerance in BWR service. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Iron and Steel, Phase Transformations |