Full strain tensor determination of polycrystalline chromium coated zirconium plates and claddings for nuclear application with the µLaue te

In order to enhance the oxidation resistance of nuclear Zr based fuel cladding, chromium coating is one of the most advanced concepts. In that context, studying the stress distribution of the coating depending on fabrication process parameters (PVD) is essential. This experiment, following the one carried out in February 2025, aims to characterize the stress/strain distribution around the Zr-Cr interface using the scanning micro-diffraction Laue set-up, available on BM32 beamline at ESRF. Stress/strain distribution and gradients will be determined within chromium layers deposited on Zr substrate (plate, tube) but also for Zr grains located just below the interface by means of Differential Aperture X-ray Microscopy (DAXM). To determine the full stress tensor at any voxel, energy measurements will performed at all required step of the wires DAXM scan. This will lead to the knowledge of the depth resolved full strain tensor components inside a single grain along the direction of the beam.