Course in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings
Online 300 h course in zirconium cladding design and coatings. 6 modules covering ASTM B811 (zirconium alloy tubing for cladding), ASTM G2/G2M (corrosion of zirconium alloys in water at 360 °C) and FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings — studying from Malta
Malta has no nuclear power generation, and its nuclear engineering relevance lies mainly in radiation protection, safeguards awareness, medical and industrial radiation use, and regulatory oversight of radioactive materials. The Malta Radiation Protection Department and the Health Directorate oversee the use of radiation in hospitals, research and industry. Engineers may find roles in medical physics support, radiological monitoring and compliance. The sector is largely confined to applied and regulatory work rather than fuel cycle activity.
Fees for Malta: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Is there a professional route in Malta for nuclear engineering, and is SEIUM's qualification recognised?
Malta does not operate nuclear power plants, so nuclear engineering careers there are limited, and roles are more likely in regulation, consultancy or international work. SEIUM Institute's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by any national body. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant regulatory body, so verify this before enrolling.
What employment could this training lead to in Malta?
Given Malta has no nuclear power generation, local opportunities are few and would mostly sit within consultancy, international organisations or firms working abroad. Employers in these roles set their own qualification requirements, and a private online qualification may or may not be accepted. Reviewing job requirements and speaking with employers will show how the training would be viewed.
Can I study this from Malta without relocating, and how is the workload structured?
Yes, the programmes are 100% online, taught in English and suitable for study from home, so you do not need a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and fees are payable in instalments, with possible employer sponsorship.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the properties that make zirconium a cladding material.
Analyse the mechanical behaviour of cladding in operation.
Describe the corrosion and hydriding mechanisms.
Evaluate cladding performance under accident conditions.
Compare coatings and materials for ATF fuels.
Interpret licensing requirements applicable to cladding.
Develop an improved cladding design proposal.
Who it's for
- Cladding materials engineer wishing to specialise in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings.
- Fuel design engineer wishing to specialise in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings.
- Researcher in accident-tolerant fuels wishing to specialise in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings.
- Coatings specialist wishing to specialise in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings.
- Fuel licensing engineer wishing to specialise in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings.
- Materials testing technician wishing to specialise in Zirconium Cladding Design and Coatings.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter nuclear fuel manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- ASTM B811 (zirconium alloy tubing for cladding)
- ASTM G2/G2M (corrosion of zirconium alloys in water at 360 °C)
- 10 CFR 50.46 (ECCS acceptance criteria)
- ASTM B350 (zirconium ingots for nuclear use)
- NUREG-0800, section 4.2 (fuel design)
- IAEA SSG-52 (reactor core design)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Functional requirements of a cladding tube1.2Low neutron absorption cross-section1.3Classic and advanced alloys1.4Alloying elements and their role1.5Phases, precipitates and microstructure1.6Crystallographic texture and anisotropy1.7Tube manufacturing process1.8Heat treatments and recrystallisation1.9Specifications and quality control1.10Exercise: comparing two commercial alloys
2.1Elastic properties and their anisotropy2.2Yield strength and tensile strength2.3Tensile, ring and internal pressure tests2.4Thermal and irradiation creep2.5Irradiation growth2.6Neutron-damage hardening2.7Stress relaxation of springs and grids2.8Power-cycling fatigue2.9Allowable strain criteria2.10Practice: calculating cladding strain
3.1Oxidation in high-temperature water3.2Oxidation kinetics and transition3.3Effect of coolant chemistry3.4Hydrogen uptake and its fraction3.5Hydride precipitation and orientation3.6Hydride embrittlement and blistering3.7Shadow corrosion and galvanic effects3.8Deposits and their effect on temperature3.9Corrosion models used in design3.10Practice: estimating oxide thickness at end of cycle
4.1High-temperature oxidation and hydrogen production4.2Steam oxidation correlations4.3Cladding ballooning and burst4.4Temperature and equivalent oxidation criteria4.5Embrittlement after quenching4.6Loss of coolant and thermal sequence4.7Power transients and interaction failure4.8Severe accident behaviour4.9Applicable regulatory requirements4.10Practice: verifying accident criteria
5.1Motivation for accident-tolerant fuels5.2Chromium coatings and their deposition5.3Adhesion, integrity and in-service behaviour5.4Iron, chromium and aluminium alloys5.5Silicon carbide composites5.6Neutronic compatibility and penalty5.7Required qualification tests5.8Experimental irradiation and post-irradiation examination5.9Maturity status and licensing5.10Practice: assessing a coating option
6.1Choice of reactor and operating conditions6.2Alloy and tube specification6.3Mechanical calculation under normal operation6.4Corrosion and hydriding prediction6.5Verification of accident criteria6.6Assessment of a coating option6.7Testing and qualification programme6.8Cost and industrial feasibility analysis6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN, BISON (MOOSE), Thermo-Calc, ABAQUS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for autoclave corrosion tests, LOCA-type high-temperature oxidation tests, and tube tensile and burst tests. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the properties that make zirconium a cladding material.
Analyse the mechanical behaviour of cladding in operation.
Describe the corrosion and hydriding mechanisms.
Evaluate cladding performance under accident conditions.
Compare coatings and materials for ATF fuels.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish proficiency to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 total hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN, BISON (MOOSE), Thermo-Calc, ABAQUS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit-transfer policy when you enrol.
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