CORROSION RESEARCH ROUND‐UP

UNITED KINGDOM Aluminium alloys for water‐cooled power reactors. The corrosion properties of aluminium‐nickel‐iron alloys in both static and dynamic high‐temperature water are described. It is shown that the corrosion‐resistance in high‐temperature water flowing at 20 ft./sec. is about eight times that in a static system, and that there is little effect of alloy composition under dynamic conditions. Under flowing conditions, the corrosion rate is shown to be very dependent on the amount of aluminium surface within the dynamic system, and this is thought to be due to saturating the water with aluminium oxide. Under dynamic conditions, the lowest corrosion rate observed is about 8 by 10–3 in./year, but an oxide film formed on samples in static water will reduce the corrosion rate to about 2 by 10–3 in./year. The effect of inhibitors is discussed, and also that of heat flux. Results are given for both short‐ and long‐term mechanical properties. The properties of these alloys are discussed in relation to water‐cooled power reactors, and it is shown that at the present stage of development they are not competitive with zirconium alloys for fuel sheathing.—(E. C. W. Perryman, J. Inst. Metals, 1959–60, 88, 62–73.)