Analysis of the oxidized surface of 90Nb-10Zr alloy after exposure to lithiated water with 0.01 M LiOH at 360 °C/18.6 MPa

The microstructural characteristics of oxide films on 90Nb–10Zr (wt%) alloy in lithiated water were investigated to understand the oxidation process of β-Nb precipitates in Zr–1Nb (wt%) alloy. The outer layer of the alloy is faceted, and has loosely packed LiNbO3 particles. Pores and nano-sized LiNbO3 are present between the outer and the compact Nb2O5 inner layer. Nb2O5 reacted with LiOH to form LiNbO3 and it dissolved into the corrosive...