The radiation oxidation of aluminum in contact with water

The aluminum oxidation in the aluminum-water system under the action of radiation is studied using the radiothermoluminescence and IR-reflection absorption spectroscopy methods. The specific features of the radiother moluminescence peaks observed in a 100–250 K temperature range (the activation energy Ea = 0.38–0.65 eV) corroborate the significance role of superficial oxygen hole-type centers and chemisorbed oxygen in the oxide film formation. Based on the dose dependence of the chemisorbed oxygen thermal quenching, the kinetics of aluminum radiative oxidation and its chemisorptive passivation are revealed. The oxide film formation and the heterogeneity of its structure are traced using the IR-reflection spectra. A possible scheme of the radiation oxidation of aluminum in the aluminum-water system is suggested.