Method for improving the mechanical properties of uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy
Abstract
A uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy characterized by high strength, high ductility and stable microstructure is fabricated by an improved thermal mechanical process. A homogenous ingot of the alloy which has been reduced in thickness of at least 50% in the two-step forging operation, rolled into a plate with a 75% reduction and then heated in vacuum at a temperature of about 750 to 850/sup 0/C and then quenched in water, is subjected to further thermal-mechanical operation steps to increase the compressive yield strength approximately 30%, stabilize the microstructure, and decrease the variations in mechanical properties throughout the plate is provided. These thermal-mechanical steps are achieved by cold rolling the quenchd plate to reduce the thickness thereof about 8 to 12%, aging the cold rolled plate at a first temperature of about 325 to 375/sup 0/C for five to six hours and then aging the plate at a higher temperature ranging from 480 to 500/sup 0/C for five to six hours prior to cooling the billet to ambient conditions and sizing the billet or plate into articles provides the desired increase in mechanical properties and phase stability throughout the plate.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6789067
- Application Number:
- ON: DE84014234
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; URANIUM BASE ALLOYS; THERMOMECHANICAL TREATMENTS; ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS; AGING; MICROSTRUCTURE; ROLLING; STABILIZATION; ACTINIDE ALLOYS; ALLOYS; CRYSTAL STRUCTURE; FABRICATION; HEAT TREATMENTS; MATERIALS WORKING; URANIUM ALLOYS; 360103* - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties
Citation Formats
Anderson, R C. Method for improving the mechanical properties of uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Anderson, R C. Method for improving the mechanical properties of uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy. United States.
Anderson, R C. Tue .
"Method for improving the mechanical properties of uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy". United States.
@article{osti_6789067,
title = {Method for improving the mechanical properties of uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy},
author = {Anderson, R C},
abstractNote = {A uranium-1 to 3 wt % zirconium alloy characterized by high strength, high ductility and stable microstructure is fabricated by an improved thermal mechanical process. A homogenous ingot of the alloy which has been reduced in thickness of at least 50% in the two-step forging operation, rolled into a plate with a 75% reduction and then heated in vacuum at a temperature of about 750 to 850/sup 0/C and then quenched in water, is subjected to further thermal-mechanical operation steps to increase the compressive yield strength approximately 30%, stabilize the microstructure, and decrease the variations in mechanical properties throughout the plate is provided. These thermal-mechanical steps are achieved by cold rolling the quenchd plate to reduce the thickness thereof about 8 to 12%, aging the cold rolled plate at a first temperature of about 325 to 375/sup 0/C for five to six hours and then aging the plate at a higher temperature ranging from 480 to 500/sup 0/C for five to six hours prior to cooling the billet to ambient conditions and sizing the billet or plate into articles provides the desired increase in mechanical properties and phase stability throughout the plate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}