DENSITY-FUNCTIONAL STUDY OF THE U-ZR SYSTEM
Density-functional formalism is applied to study the phase equilibria in the U-Zr system. The obtained ground-state properties of the {gamma} (bcc) and {delta} (C32) phases are in good agreement with experimental data. The decomposition curve for the {gamma}-based U-Zr solutions is calculated. Our calculations confirm that experimentally observed 'partial' ordering of the alloy components in the {delta}-UZr{sub 2} (AlB{sub 2}) phase, in which Zr atoms occupy the 'Al' position and the two 'B' sites are randomly shared by the U and Zr atoms, is the most energetically favorable within the C32 structure. We argue that stabilization of the {delta}-UZr{sub 2} phase relative to the {alpha}-Zr (hcp) structure is due to an increase of the Zr d-band occupancy that occurs when U is alloyed with Zr. A comparison with stabilization of the {omega}-phase (also C32) in Zr under compression is made.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 952752
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-405080; JALCEU; TRN: US0902585
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol. 478, Issue 1-2; ISSN 0925-8388
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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