Fabrication of Uniform Nanoporous Oxide Layers on Long Cylindrical Zircaloy Tubes by Anodization Using Multi-Counter Electrodes.

We have presented a method to prepare a uniform anodic nanoporous oxide film on the surface of a cylindrical zircaloy (Zr) tube. The distribution of the electric field around the Zr tube determines the distribution of the thickness of the anodic nanoporous oxide film. The electric field generated when a cylindrical Zr tube is electrochemically anodized was simulated by using commercial code COMSOL. When four Pt wires were used as counter electrodes, a uniform electric field was achieved with minimal use of Pt. Based on the simulation results, a cylindrical Zr tube was anodized and the distribution of the thickness of the anodic nanoporous oxide layer was measured by FESEM. Also, mass production of uniform nanoporous anodic oxide films was possible by symmetrically arranging the zircaloy tubes and Pt wires.