OPTIMUM SPOT AND SEAM WELDING CONDITIONS FOR ZIRCALOY 3

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4306408

Nippes, E F; Savage, W F; Wu, K C

The optimum spot-welding conditions for 0.062- and 0.110-in. Zircaloy-3 sheet were determined. The optimum conditiuns for seam welding were determined only for the 0.062-in. sheet. To obtain a consistent weld strength, the tenacious, low-conductivity surface film must be removed from the surface of Zircaloy-3 sheet. A pickling solution consisting of 100 pts. concentrated HCl (assay 37%) with 1 pt. 48% HF was found to be satisfactory for removing the surface film. After one minute in this solution, a consistent surface contact resistsnnce of the order of 40 microhms was obtained. To simulate actual practice, the effect of storage environment after pickling was studied. The tensile-shear strength of spotwelded Zircaloy-3 was high; however, its normal- tension strengt was comparatively low. Welding under an argon atmosphere improved both the tensile-shear and normaltension strength, but did not materially change the ductility ratio. Tests performed at 500 F showed a decrease in the tensile-shear strength and an increase in the normal-tension strength and the ductility ratio. (auth)

• Research Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-003803
• OSTI ID: 4306408
• Report Number(s): AECU-3964
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ARGON
DUCTILITY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
FILMS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
MATERIALS TESTING
METALLURGY AND CERAMICS
PICKLING
SEAM WELDING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHEAR
SHEETS
SOLUTIONS
STORAGE
SURFACES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THICKNESS
WELDING
ZIRCALOY