Corrosion resistance of chromium coating on the inner surface of EP823-Sh steel cladding

The processes of corrosion damage of the inner surface of the cladding are determined by corrosive reagents aggressive with respect to the cladding and the type of fuel used. Reactor irradiation of cladding made of EP823-Sh steel with mixed nitride fuel planned for use in the BREST-OD-300 reactor revealed non-uniform corrosion of the inner surface of the cladding. In this paper, the use of the chromium coating is proposed to prevent the corrosion of the inner surface of the steel fuel cladding. The results of corrosion tests of chromium coating applied to the inner surface of cladding made of EP823-Sh steel by electrolytic deposition are presented. Electron-microscopic studies of the chromium coating on EP823-Sh steel showed no significant signs of corrosion damage when tested in the environment of simulant fission products (CsI+Te) and in liquid lead at 650 °C.