Corrosion-resistant alloys, design parameters

Although aluminium and its alloys have attractive nuclear properties, they have limited strength, poor compatibility with uranium at high temperatures and low corrosion resistance in water or steam at temperatures above 523 K. Hence their use is restricted to core components in research reactors, where temperatures do not exceed 423 K. However, various parameters, such as water quality, structural design (crevices, galvanic contact with other materials), alloy composition and irradiation, have significant influence on the corrosion resistance of aluminium in research reactors. 

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