Multi- response optimization of arc ion plated Cr coating on Zr alloy claddings based on Taguchi method and grey relational theory
| Parent link: | Journal of Nuclear Materials.— .— Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishing Company Inc. Vol. 625.— 2026.— Article number 156533, 13 p. |
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| Other Authors: | , , , , , , |
| Summary: | Title screen Zirconium alloys are widely used as nuclear fuel claddings due to their low neutron absorption and good mechanical properties, but their rapid oxidation in high-temperature steam during accidents limits reactor safety. Applying a protective chromium coating is considered a promising approach to enhance their accident tolerance. However, most previous studies have focused on single-factor investigations, which cannot quantitatively evaluate the significance and interaction of multiple process parameters, thus limiting the optimization of coating performance. In this study, Cr coatings were deposited on Zr-4 alloy substrates using arc ion plating under an L9 (34) orthogonal design, with arc current, bias voltage, duty cycle, and gas pressure as variables. The effects of these parameters on coating thickness, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature oxidation behavior were analyzed using the Taguchi method combined with Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) for multi-response optimization. The results revealed that the arc current predominantly influenced the initial thickness, while gas pressure significantly affected both corrosion current and oxide layer thickness. The optimal process parameters—140 A arc current, 40 V bias voltage, 20 % duty cycle, and 0.8 Pa gas pressure—produced coatings with a 30.2 μm thickness, a corrosion current density of 6.65 nA/cm², and an oxide layer thickness of 4.7 μm. Oxidation tests between 1100 and 1400 °C indicated a three-stage mechanism: formation of a dense Cr2O3 protective layer at 1100 °C, interdiffusion and pore formation at 1200 °C, and complete coating degradation above 1300 °C. This study provides an efficient Taguchi–GRA optimization framework for improving the performance of Cr-coated Zr claddings Текстовый файл AM_Agreement |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156533 |
| Format: | Electronic Book Chapter |
| KOHA link: | https://koha.lib.tpu.ru/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=685087 |