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Contribution to the Study of the /cap beta/ $Yields$ /cap alpha/ Transformation in Uranium and its Alloys; CONTRIBUTION A L'ETUDE DE LA TRANSFORMATION /cap beta/ $Yields$ / cap alpha/ DANS L'URANIUM ET SES ALLIAGES

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:4756888
The kinetics of the transformation of uranium alloys containing 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, and 3 atom per cert Cr were studied. The influence of heat treatment before decomposition is discussed. The study of the transformation characteristics such as kinetics, residual phases, phenomena connected with the coherence between phases, reversibility below the equilibrium temperature, shows the following mechanisms exhibited during the decomposition of the BETA phase on lowering the temperature: 1) eutectoid, 2) bainitic, 3) martensitic. The study of the TTT diagrams of alloys containing decreasing percentages of chromium indicates that the unalloyed uranium transforms without maintaining the coherence above 600 deg C, where as at lower temperatures the transformation is mainly martensitic. The various alloying elements can be characterized by their influence on the three TTT curves corresponding to the three possible transformation mechanisms. The ability of the uranium alloys to alpha grain refining during isothermal decomposition or ambient temperature quenching is directly connected with the characteristics of the TTT diagrams and especially to the mode of bainitic transformation. (auth)
Research Organization:
France. Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique. Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires, Saclay
NSA Number:
NSA-17-014816
OSTI ID:
4756888
Report Number(s):
CEA-2186
Country of Publication:
France
Language:
English