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Title: Phase Stability in the Fe-Rich Fe-Cr-Ni-Zr Alloys

Journal Article · · Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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Knowledge on phase stability in Fe-rich Fe-Cr-Ni-Zr alloys is needed for the development of Laves-phase strengthened Fe-Cr-Ni-Zr ferritic alloys which have shown promising applications as new cladding materials of nuclear reactors due to enhanced high temperature strength, and resistance to creep and irradiation hardening. Phase stability in four Fe-rich Fe-Cr-Ni-Zr alloys was carefully investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The samples were arc-melted and heat treated at 700 °C for 336 hours and 1000 °C for 1275 hours. The experimental results showed extensive solubility of Ni in the intermetallic phases Fe23Zr6 and Fe2Zr_C15. Nickel stabilizes the Laves Fe2Zr_C15 structure more than the C36 and C14 structures. In addition to Fe23Zr6 and Fe2Zr_C15, Ni7Zr2 was found to be stable in samples with higher Ni content and lower annealing temperature. The body-centered-cubic, Fe2Zr_C15 and Fe23Z6 coexist in all samples regardless of composition and temperature. Detailed analysis suggested that the coexistence of these three phases is not a result of thermodynamic equilibrium, but a result of the competing formation kinetics of Fe2Zr_C15 and Fe23Z6.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1394241
Journal Information:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, Vol. 48, Issue 10; ISSN 1073-5623
Publisher:
ASM International
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Thermodynamic modeling and experimental study of the Fe–Cr–Zr system journal October 2013
Experimental determination of intermetallic phases, phase equilibria, and invariant reaction temperatures in the Fe-Zr system journal December 2002
Microstructure and phase identification in type 304 stainless steel-zirconium alloys journal August 1996
Metallurgical characterizations of Fe–Cr–Ni–Zr base alloys developed for geological disposal of radioactive hulls journal January 2012
Hardness and microstructural studies of electron beam welded joints of Zircaloy-4 and stainless steel journal March 2002
Laves intermetallics in stainless steel–zirconium alloys journal December 1997
Experimental investigation of phase equilibria in the Ni–Fe–Zr ternary system journal April 2016
Formation of the Fe23Zr6 phase in an Fe-Zr alloy journal July 1997
Role of laves intermetallics in nuclear waste disposal journal June 2002

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE