THE STUDY PROPERTIES OF PROTECTIVE CHROME COATING ON THE SAMPLES-SIMULATORS OF WWER FUEL RODS
The experimental samples-simulators of fuel rods of LWR type reactor with a chromium coating deposited by the method of thermal evaporation in a magnetron discharge have been made. The methods of optical and scanning electron microscope were used to study the thickness and uniformity, morphology and structure of the surface, as well as the elemental composition of the coating. Tribological properties of the fuel rods sample-simulator as applied to the fuel assemblage conditions have been investigated, coefficients of friction for the standard fuel cladding and the coated fuel cladding have been determined. The results show that, when interacting with spacer grid under the load characteristic for the fuel bundle assembly conditions, the coefficient of friction of the fuel cladding with chrome coating is 1,9 times less than the nominal fuel cladding. Accelerated corrosion tests of the sample-simulator of fuel rod have been made, adhesion strength of the coating to the base of the E110 alloy was have been investigated, as well as comparative experiments on oxidation in air at 1100 °C have been made.