Types and Research Progress of Coatings for Zirconium Cladding of Accident Tolerant Fuel

The zirconium coating on the surface of the fuel element can enhance its fault-tolerance ability under accident conditions without affecting the properties of the zirconium substrate. It is one of the most effective means to improve the safety of nuclear power operation in the short term since the Fukushima accident. The research status of fuel coatings with different materials at domestic and overseas was reviewed, including Cr system, FeCrAl system, ceramic system and high entropy alloy system. The performance advantages and main problems of existing accident-resistant fuel coatings were analyzed and introduced from the aspects of deposition process parameters of coating materials, stability under accident conditions and coating failure process. The excellent protective ability of Cr coating and FeCrAl coating to the substrate has been widely concerned by researchers. At present, it has entered the pilot stage, but its stability under nuclear power conditions still needs to be further confirmed. The development of safe, stable and efficient accident-resistant fuel coatings is of great significance to the development of nuclear power.