Reorientation of Hydrides in Unirradiated Clad Tubes Made of Alloy E110 under Conditions Simulating Long-Term Dry Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel

Reorientation of hydrides in the course of dry storage of spent nuclear fuel is a possible mechanism for the degradation of the properties of fuel claddings made of alloy E110 (Zr–1% Nb) based on spongy zirconium in VVER reactors. To determine the degree of reorientation of hydride precipitates in fuel claddings under conditions that simulate the conditions of dry storage, a series of tests have been performed for unirradiated samples with a...