b'Additionally, a reliable method for pre hydriding Zircaloy-4 cladding with hydride rims of ~100 microns was developed using a sealed partial pressure gaseous diffusion method. Destructive examinations of the hydrided cladding revealed consis-tent hydrogen concentrations and rim thicknesses across the center 10 cm of the hydrided cladding tubes.Completion of the capsule design, methodology for creating hydrided cladding, and methodology for welding integral junction cladding thermocouples positions the HERA project well to be successful next year when the initial irradiations will take place.Figure 2. Cladding thermocouple weld40 2021|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'