Transmission electron microscopic studies were made of oxide films on the surface of a Zr alloy, and the crystallography of interfaces was analyzed. Regions were observed, in the oxide film, which had a peculiar microstructure that consisted almost entirely of twins. Computer simulation was used to reveal possible grain boundary types in various regions of the film. It was suggested that a high concentration of special grain boundaries hindered transport through the zirconia film.

Special Grain Boundaries in Zirconia Corrosion Films. V.Y.Gertsman, Y.P.Lin, A.P.Zhilyaev, J.A.Szpunar: Philosophical Magazine A, 1999, 79[7], 1567-90