Hot-working characteristics of Zircaloy-2 in the temperature range of 650–950°C

The hot-working characteristics of Zircaloy-2 have been studied in the temperature range of 650 to 950°C and in the strain-rate range of 10−3 to 102 s−1 using power dissipation maps which describe the variation of the efficiency of power dissipation, η = 2m /(m + 1) where m is the strain-rate sensitivity of flow stress. The individual domains exhibited by the map have been interpreted and validated by detailed metallographic investigations. Dynamic recrystallization occurs in the temperature range of 730 to 830°C and in the strain-rate range of 10−2 to 2 s−1. The peak efficiency occurs at 800°C and 0.1 s−1 which may be considered as the optimum hot-working parameters in the α-phase field of Zircaloy-2. Superplastic behaviour, characterized by a high efficiency of power dissipation is observed at temperatures greater than 860°C and at strain rates lower than 10−2 s−1. When deformed at 650°C and 10−3 s−1, the primary restoration mechanism is dynamic recovery, while at rates higher than 2s−1, the material exhibits microstructural instabilities in the form of localized shear bands.

Preparation and characterization of Zircaloy 4-Tantalum alloys for application in corrosive media

Two Zircaloy 4-Ta alloys (14 and 55 wt.% Ta) were produced by arc-melting. The alloys were hot-rolled at 900 degrees C and heat-treated under argon atmosphere for 100 h at 700 degrees C. The alloys were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The microstructure of both rolled and heat-treated alloys is constituted of (beta Zr,Ta)-II Ta-rich precipitates dispersed in a (alpha Zr) matrix. Corrosion tests performed in boiling concentrated H2SO4 solutions showed that the Zircaloy 4-Ta alloys are more corrosion resistant than Zircaloy 4 and that the corrosion resistance increases with increasing Ta content. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Crystallography of zirconium hydrides in recrystallized Zircaloy-2 fuel cladding lay electron backscatter diffraction

Precipitation morphology and habit planes of the delta-phase Zr hydrides, which were precipitated within the a-phase matrix grains and along the grain boundaries of recrystallized Zircaloy-2 cladding tube, have been examined by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Radially-oriented hydrides, induced by residual tensile stress, precipitated in the outside region of the cladding, and circumferentially-oriented hydrides in the stress-free middle region of the cladding. The most common crystallographic relationship for both types of the hydrides precipitated at the inter- and intra-granular sites was identical at (0001)(alpha) // {111}(delta), with {1017}(alpha) // {111}(delta) being the occasional exception only for the inter-granular radial hydrides. When tensile stress was loaded, the intra-granular hydrides tended to preferentially precipitate in the grains with circumferential basal pole textures. The inter-granular hydrides tended to preferentially precipitate on the grain faces opposite to tensile axis. The change of prioritization in the precipitation sites for the hydrides due to tensile stress could be explained in terms of the relaxation effect of constrained elastic energy on the terminal solid solubility of hydrogen at hydride precipitation.

Characterization of hot deformation behavior of Zr-1Nb-1Sn alloy

The hot deformation behavior of beta-quenched Zr-1 Nb-1Sn was studied in the temperature range 650-1050 degrees C and strain rate range 0.001-100 s(-1) using processing maps. These maps revealed three different domains: a domain of dynamic recovery at temperatures <700 degrees C and at strain rates <3 x 10(-3) s(-1), a domain of dynamic recrystallization in the temperature range 750-950 C-degrees and at strain rates <10(-2) S-1 with a peak at 910 degrees C and 10(-3) S-1 (in alpha + beta phase field), and a domain of large-grain superplasticity in the beta phase field at strain rates <10(-2) s(-1). In order to identify the rate controlling mechanisms involved in these domains, kinetic analysis was carried out to determine the various activation parameters. In addition, the processing maps showed a regime of flow instability spanning both alpha + beta and beta phase fields. The hot deformation behavior of Zr 1Nb-1Sn was compared with that of Zr, Zr-2.5Nb and Zircaloy-2 to bring out the effects of alloy additions. (C) 2006 Elsevier BN. All rights reserved.

Shear Localization In Dynamic Deformation: Microstructural Evolution

Investigations made by the authors and collaborators into the microstructural aspects of adiabatic shear localization are critically reviewed. The materials analyzed are low-carbon steels, 304 stainless steel, monocrystalline Fe-Ni-Cr, Ti and its alloys, Al-Li alloys, Zircaloy, copper, and Al/SiCp composites. The principal findings are the following: (a) there is a strain-rate-dependent critical strain for the development of shear bands; (b) deformed bands and white-etching bands correspond to different stages of deformation; (c) different slip activities occur in different stages of band development; (d) grain refinement and amorphization occur in shear bands; (e) loss of stress-carrying capability is more closely associated with microdefects rather than with localization of strain; (f) both crystalline rotation and slip play important roles; and (g) band development and band structures are material dependent. Additionally, avenues for new research directions are suggested.