Delayed hydride cracking in Zircaloy-2 with and without liner at various temperatures investigated by high-resolution neutron radiography

Delayed hydride cracking (DHC) remains an important phenomenon when considering cladding mechanical integrity during transport and storage of spent nuclear fuel. This work studies the hydrogen diffusion precipitation patterns DHC as a function temperature via high-resolution neutron imaging. Zircaloy-2 tubes with without inner liner were radially cracked from outside-in direction within range 210–360 °C. A quantitative analysis was performed on radiographs showing average radial concentration around crack tip. The results show trend increase in local precipitated tip temperature. elevated concentrations correlate amount solid solution available to diffuse towards well tensile stresses at