Application of nano-sized TiO2 as an inhibitor of stress corrosion cracking in the steam generator tube materials.
Several chemicals were studied to suppress the damage due to a stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of the steam generator (SG) tubes in nuclear power plants. SCC tests were carried out to investigate the performance of TiO2 on several types of SG tube materials. The SCC tests were conducted by using an m-RUB specimen in a 10% NaOH solution at a temperature of 315 degrees C. The test with the addition of TiO2 showed a decrease in the SCC rate for the SG tubing materials. In order to improve the inhibition property in a crevice of TiO2, a sonochemical technique was applied to reduce the size of the TiO2 particle. From the SCC tests with the RUB specimen, the SG tube materials showed an enhanced cracking resistance with the addition of nano-sized TiO2 and the surface property was also changed.
Kim
Kyung Mo
KM
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon, 305-353, Korea.
Lee
Eun Hee
EH
Kim
Uh Chul
UC
Choi
Byung Seon
BS