Effects of Simulated Fission Products on the Mechanical Properties of Zircaloy-2

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Abstract
Room temperature tensile tests were carried out on Zircaloy-2 specimens exposed to the simulated fission products tellurium, selenium, bromine, iodine, cadmium, indium, antimony, and molybdenum up to 3.6 Ms (1000 h) in the temperature range from 623 to 973 K. Exposure at 623 or 773 K did not significantly affect either strength or elongation values of Zircaloy-2, irrespective of the chemical environment. All specimens showed high reduction of area and ductile fracture morphology. Exposure to these elements at 973 K, on the other hand, results in a general reduction of the tensile properties at room temperature; in fact, iodine, bromine, and molybdenum cause nonductile fracture with little or no reduction of area. These results are significant, since molybdenum is an abundant fission product.