WELDING OF ZIRCONIUM-2.5 w/o NIOBIUM AND ZIRCONIUM-3.0 w/o ALUMINUM-0.5 w/o MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS

Technical Report · Fri Jun 29 04:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4794795

Lavigne, M J

The high-strength Zr alloys Zr--2.5 w/o Nb and Zr--3.0 w/o Al--0.5 w/o Mo were welded under various atmospheres, and the welds were evaluated by nondestructive testing, chemical analysis, metallographic examination, and tensile testing at room temperature and 315 deg C. The Zr--Nb welds were also evaluated by corrosion testing in 360 deg C water after various heat treatments and surface treatments before and after welding. In addition, the welding of Zr--2.5 Nb to Zircaloy-2 was investigated. The alloys are readily weldable by the inert W-arc welding process and although the weld-shielding atmosphere has no apparent effect on the mechanical properties of the welds, the corrosion resistance of the Zr--Nb alloy is affected. The best corrosion resistance is obtained with the highest purity, gas-shielding conditions. Vapor blasting and pickling after welding resulted in some improvement in corrosion resistance of welds made under the various atmospheres. Heat treating after welding followed by vapor blasting and pickling improves the corrosion resistance of the Zr--Nb alloys. The corrosion resistence of the heat-affected zone is impaired in the Zr --Nb material, whether welded, as received, or heat-treated. A complete solution and aging treatment would probably be required to restore the corrosion resistance. Welding in a pre-evacuated box (0.01 mu ), back-filled with purified Ar, is considered to be more suitable for the welding of thick sections or complicated shapes of Zr--Nb and Zr--Al --Mo alloys. (auth)

• Research Organization: Canadian Westinghouse Co., Ltd., Atomic Energy Div., Hamilton, Ontario (Canada)
• Sponsoring Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL), Chalk River, Ontario (Canada)
• NSA Number: NSA-17-000509
• OSTI ID: 4794795
• Report Number(s): AECL-1610; CW-R& DL-29
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM ALLOYS
CORROSION
ELECTRIC ARCS
GASES
HEAT TREATMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IMPURITIES
INERT GASES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALLOGRAPHY
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THICKNESS
TUNGSTEN
WATER
WELDING
WELDS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS