FINAL REPORT TO UNION CARBIDE NUCLEAR COMPANY-BERYLLIUM TUBING PROGRAM
Fifty-two extrusions by the shaped die technique were made during the course of the program under Phase H. Lengths of tubes up to 23 feet were successfully extruded. A higher reduction ratio (28x) than that used in Phase I (23x) was successfully employed together with longer billets to increase the yield by 85 percent and thus reduce the cost of tubing. Efforts to reduce costs by increasing die life (which in Phase I was limited to one extrusion) were also successful: during this program, six extrusions were accomplished through one die with little sign of die wear. Inspection of the tubing indicates that the tubes are basically sound and that they can be reproduced with a good degree of consistency. The room temperature burst test data indicate that, in general, as- extruding tubing with adequate surface preparation gives the highest hoop stress values. Reduction ratio and extrusion temperature (at least in the range employed in Phase II) have little if any effect on the hoop stress results. Surface quality and surface damage influence the strengih of tubing as determined by hoop stress: tubing on which surface damage had not been adequately removed and tubing with poor surface quality exhibited low strength. Inspections by Dy- Chek penetrant techniques and the helium leak detector did not reveal any abnormalities in the tubing as a result of the fabrication method and refinements employed. The shorttime, elevated temperature burst strength was determined for beryllium tubing hot extruded with a reduction in area of 23x. The hoop stresses varied linearly from 27,000 to 10,000 psi in the temperature range 800 to 1300 deg F. The strength of tubing extruded with a 28x reduction was found to be similar to that of tubing extruded at 23x reduction. A limited number of stress- rupture determinations were made at 600 deg C for beryllium tubing fabricated under normal conditions. These tests were for periods of 0.1 to 10 hours. Surface quality of the tubes, both on the inside and outside surfaces, can be controlled to some extent during extrusion. However, the greatest improvement and control of surface quality was made with such postextrusion treatments as chemical etching and liquid and dry honing. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Nuclear Metals, Inc., Concord, Mass.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-036251
- OSTI ID:
- 4634918
- Report Number(s):
- NMI-4971
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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