Uniform corrosion behavior of FeCrAl alloys in borated and lithiated high temperature water

•Research highlights of the present work are listed as follows:•FeCrAl alloys exhibited better corrosion resistance than commercial Zircaloy-4.•Oxide film consists of outer Fe3O4 layer, inner spinel layer and transition layer.•Compact spinel layer in inner layer can block inward diffusion of oxygen.•Porous spinel layer in inner layer was caused by outward diffusion of Fe2+.•The small addition of yttrium had no effect on corrosion of FeCrAl alloys.