Nickel-chromium (Ni–Cr) coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering for accident tolerant nuclear fuel claddings

Nickel-chromium coatings were deposited on Zr[sbnd]1Nb alloy using magnetron sputtering systems with «hot» Ni and cooled Cr targets. The effect of coating composition on high-temperature oxidation resistance and hydrogen uptake of Zr[sbnd]1Nb was studied. Hydrogen uptake of the alloy was measured in situ under gas-phase hydrogenation at 633 K. High-temperature oxidation was performed in air atmosphere at 1173–1373 K for 20 min. It was shown that the coating with high Ni content (83 at.%) drastically increases hydrogen uptake of the Zr[sbnd]1Nb alloy and demonstrates low oxidation resistance even at 1173 K. The coatings with Cr content ≥45 at.% have low hydrogen permeability which reduces the rate of hydrogen uptake of the alloy. The oxidation resistance of the Ni[sbnd]Cr coatings increases with Cr content in the as-deposited coatings. The pure Cr coating exhibits the best oxidation resistance: only 8 μm-thick oxide layer was observed. There is also found the intensive diffusion of nickel into the alloy during high-temperature oxidation of the samples coated by Ni[sbnd]Cr films with 55 and 17 at.% Ni. The as-deposited Ni[sbnd]Cr coatings are less brittle than the pure Cr coating, but their mechanical properties degrade stronger than for the Cr coating after the oxidation test.