Alumina-forming MAX phase coatings reveal great potential for accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding applications due to their favorable physical and mechanical properties and excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance. The feasibility of Cr₂AlC MAX phase as protective coating on zirconium-alloy fuel claddings was explored focusing on high-temperature oxidation resistance in steam and hydrothermal corrosion performance in autoclave. Single-phase and basal-plane textured Cr₂AlC coatings (~6 μm thick) were synthesized on Zircaloy-4 substrate by thermal annealing of specifically designed, magnetron-sputtered Cr/C/Al elemental multilayers at 550 °C for 10 min. Additionally, a second Cr/Cr₂AlC bilayer coating design was fabricated aiming to eliminate potential rapid hydrothermal dissolution of Al during normal operating conditions. Micro-cracking appeared on both annealed coatings owing to thermal expansion differences between coating layer and substrate.

Growth of an adherent and dense α-Al₂O₃ scale during high-temperature oxidation in steam and of a thin passivating Cr₂O₃ layer during hydrothermal corrosion in an autoclave imply excellent combined oxidation and corrosion resistance of the textured Cr₂AlC coatings on Zircaloy-4. A self-healing capability via growth of alumina filling the micro-crack (annealing-induced) gaps was observed during high-temperature oxidation. However, partial delamination was seen for both coatings after short autoclave exposure and their mechanical properties (fracture toughness and adhesion strength) need further enhancement. Overall, tailored Cr₂AlC-based (multilayered) coatings can be attractive candidates as potential type of coated ATF claddings.

形成氧化铝的MAX相涂层具有良好的物理和机械性能以及出色的耐高温氧化性，因此在耐事故燃料（ATF）包层中显示出巨大的潜力。研究了Cr ₂ AlC MAX相作为锆合金燃料包壳保护层的可行性，着眼于蒸汽中的高温抗氧化性和高压釜中的水热腐蚀性能。通过在550°C磁控溅射Cr / C / Al元素多层膜上进行专门设计的热退火，在Zircaloy-4衬底上合成了单相且具有基面纹理的Cr ₂ AlC涂层（〜6μm厚），时间为10分钟。另外，第二Cr / Cr ₂制造AlC双层涂层设计的目的是消除正常运行条件下潜在的Al快速水热溶解。由于涂层和基材之间的热膨胀差异，在两个退火涂层上都出现了微裂纹。

粘附和密集的生长的α-Al ₂ ö ₃在蒸汽和薄钝化的铬高温氧化过程中规模₂ ö ₃在高压釜中水热腐蚀层暗示纹理化的Cr的优良组合氧化和耐腐蚀性₂ ALC涂层在Zircaloy-4上。在高温氧化过程中，观察到了通过氧化铝填充微裂纹（退火引起的）间隙而产生的自修复能力。但是，在短时间的高压灭菌后，两种涂层都出现了部分分层，其机械性能（断裂韧性和粘合强度）需要进一步提高。总体而言，量身定制的Cr ₂基于AlC的（多层）涂层可能是潜在的涂层ATF包层类型。