4. Conclusions

The problems of corrosion of nickel alloys in steam generator tubes can be considered as understood and well on the way to resolution, and feedback from the latest generations of steam generators tends to confirm this point.

Solutions also exist to prevent cracking of stainless steels in confined areas of primary and auxiliary circuits.

However, the effectiveness of remedies still depends crucially on maintaining and complying with appropriate surface cleanliness specifications, both in manufacturing and in maintenance operations.

In the case of steam generator tubes, improvements in steam generator design and the choice of a material offering wide margins of resistance to most expected forms of corrosion should not obviate the need to maintain and rigorously apply feedwater specifications guaranteeing the lowest...