Microstructural studies on cast Zr[sub 3]Al-3wt%Nb

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-716X(94)90344-1· OSTI ID:5228461

Tewari, R; Dey, G K; Mukhopadhyay, P; Banerjee, S ^[1]

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1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay (India). Metallurgy Div.

In the binary Zr-Al system, Zr[sub 3]Al is the intermetallic phase richest in zirconium. In view of its low absorption cross section for thermal neutrons and its good strength and corrosion resistance, Zr[sub 3]Al may have possible applications as a structural material in thermal reactors. This phase has the ordered cubic L1[sub 2] structure and forms through the peritectoid reaction: [beta]-Zr + Zr[sub 2]Al[minus] > Zr[sub 3]Al, the reaction temperature being 1,292 K. Structurally Zr[sub 3]Al is quite similar to the [alpha][sub 2] or the Ti[sub 3]Al phase (ordered hexagonal DO[sub 19] structure) in the Ti-Al system, the two structures differing only in the stacking sequence of the close packed atomic layers. But for its inherent brittleness, Ti[sub 3]Al is a promising structural material for aerospace applications. It has, however, been demonstrated that niobium additions can reduce the brittleness of this phase. Studies on the Ti[sub 3]Al-Nb system have also shown that niobium stabilizes the high temperature [beta] phase (bcc structure) which, on cooling, can decompose through various phase reactions, generating some interesting microstructures. Similar studies on the Zr[sub 3]Al-Nb system have not been reported yet. The present paper describes some microstructural observations made on a cast Zr[sub 3]Al-3wt%Nb alloy.

• OSTI ID: 5228461
• Journal Information: Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Journal Name: Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States) Vol. 30:9; ISSN 0956-716X; ISSN SCRMEX
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360102* -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DATA
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
MICROSTRUCTURE
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NUMERICAL DATA
REACTOR MATERIALS
SCATTERING
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS