Use of anodization techniques for optical microscopy determination of solubility limits for carbon in zircaloy

Anodizing is a useful technique for the identification of zirconium carbide precipitates in Zr alloys. The technique is described in the determination of the solubility limit of carbon in Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4. The ZrC particles are typically 1-2 mu m which would generally be too small for study by optical microscopy but by the use of anodization they can be successfully resolved and identified. A Zircaloy--C pseudobinary phase diagram is presented. Graphs, Photomicrographs, Phase diagrams. 8 ref.--D.O.N.