Chromium-based coatings and diffusion barriers for accident-tolerant fuel applications.

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Title: Chromium-based coatings and diffusion barriers for accident-tolerant fuel applications.
Authors: Song, Hailing1 (AUTHOR), Ma, Zhen1 (AUTHOR), Song, Peng1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Li, Qing1,2,3 (AUTHOR) qinglikm@163.com
Source: Journal of Materials Science. Feb2026, Vol. 61 Issue 8, p5032-5066. 35p.
Subjects: Diffusion barriers, Chromium alloys, Heat resistant alloys, Materials testing, Ceramic engineering, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Japan), Oxidation, Zirconium alloys
Abstract: The 2011 Fukushima accident exposed critical safety limitations in conventional UO2–Zr fuel systems, accelerating the development of accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) technologies. Chromium coatings on zirconium alloy cladding emerge as the most promising near-term solution, offering superior high-temperature oxidation resistance through protective Cr2O3 scale formation effective up to 1200 °C. However, critical challenges remain from Cr–Zr interdiffusion above the 1332 °C eutectic temperature, driving the development of advanced diffusion barriers including ceramic systems (ZrO2, CrN), metallic interlayers (Mo, Nb, Ta, W), and multilayer architectures. Systematic evaluation reveals material-specific trade-offs: ceramic barriers (ZrO2, CrN) demonstrate effectiveness up to 1200–1300 °C but encounter dissolution and phase transformation limitations; refractory metal barriers exhibit temperature-dependent performance, with Mo systems effective to 1300–1400 °C, Ta barriers to 1400–1500 °C approaching benchmark performance, and W-based systems exceeding 1500 °C; composite FeCrAl architectures provide intermediate capability (1200–1350 °C) with enhanced oxidation resistance but face thermal expansion mismatch challenges and require enhancement beyond 1000 °C. Future priorities include mechanistic lifetime modeling, in situ characterization, and processing standardization to enable commercial deployment with quantified safety margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Materials Science is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 191287821
AccessLevel: 6
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  Data: Chromium-based coatings and diffusion barriers for accident-tolerant fuel applications.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Song%2C+Hailing%22">Song, Hailing</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ma%2C+Zhen%22">Ma, Zhen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Song%2C+Peng%22">Song, Peng</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Qing%22">Li, Qing</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> qinglikm@163.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Materials+Science%22">Journal of Materials Science</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 61 Issue 8, p5032-5066. 35p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diffusion+barriers%22">Diffusion barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chromium+alloys%22">Chromium alloys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+resistant+alloys%22">Heat resistant alloys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Materials+testing%22">Materials testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ceramic+engineering%22">Ceramic engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fukushima+Daiichi+Nuclear+Power+Plant+%28Japan%29%22">Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Japan)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oxidation%22">Oxidation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Zirconium+alloys%22">Zirconium alloys</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The 2011 Fukushima accident exposed critical safety limitations in conventional UO2–Zr fuel systems, accelerating the development of accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) technologies. Chromium coatings on zirconium alloy cladding emerge as the most promising near-term solution, offering superior high-temperature oxidation resistance through protective Cr2O3 scale formation effective up to 1200 °C. However, critical challenges remain from Cr–Zr interdiffusion above the 1332 °C eutectic temperature, driving the development of advanced diffusion barriers including ceramic systems (ZrO2, CrN), metallic interlayers (Mo, Nb, Ta, W), and multilayer architectures. Systematic evaluation reveals material-specific trade-offs: ceramic barriers (ZrO2, CrN) demonstrate effectiveness up to 1200–1300 °C but encounter dissolution and phase transformation limitations; refractory metal barriers exhibit temperature-dependent performance, with Mo systems effective to 1300–1400 °C, Ta barriers to 1400–1500 °C approaching benchmark performance, and W-based systems exceeding 1500 °C; composite FeCrAl architectures provide intermediate capability (1200–1350 °C) with enhanced oxidation resistance but face thermal expansion mismatch challenges and require enhancement beyond 1000 °C. Future priorities include mechanistic lifetime modeling, in situ characterization, and processing standardization to enable commercial deployment with quantified safety margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Materials Science is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10853-026-12163-7
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 35
        StartPage: 5032
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      – SubjectFull: Diffusion barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chromium alloys
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      – SubjectFull: Heat resistant alloys
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      – SubjectFull: Materials testing
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      – SubjectFull: Ceramic engineering
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      – SubjectFull: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Japan)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Oxidation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Zirconium alloys
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Chromium-based coatings and diffusion barriers for accident-tolerant fuel applications.
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            NameFull: Song, Hailing
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            NameFull: Ma, Zhen
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            NameFull: Song, Peng
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              M: 02
              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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