Patent ID: 8699655
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: C23C,G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of treating an outer surface of a tubular element to form a treatment layer for a water-cooled nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: providing said tubular element to be treated, said tabular element constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and stainless steel-containing materials; maintaining said tubular element in an atmosphere under pressure, said atmosphere containing gas selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, hydrogen and mixtures thereof; providing an electric discharge in said atmosphere for generating nitrogen ions; nitriding at least a portion of the outer surface of said tubular element to a depth of from about 5 to about 25 μm, said nitriding carried out at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 440° C.