Phase transformations in neutron-irradiated Zircaloys

Conference · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5462312

Chung, H M

Microstructural evolution in Zircaloy-2 and -4 spent-fuel cladding specimens after approx.3 years of irradiation in commercial power reactors has been investigated by TEM and HVEM. Two kinds of precipitates induced by the fast-neutron irradiation in the reactors have been identified, i.e., Zr/sub 3/O and cubic-ZrO/sub 2/ particles approximately 2 to 10 nm in size. By means of a weak-beam dark-field ''2-1/2D-microscopy'' technique, the bulk nature of the precipitates and the surficial nature of artifact oxide and hydride phases could be discerned. The Zr(Fe/sub x/,Cr/sub 1-x/)/sub 2/ and Zr/sub 2/(Fe/sub x/,Ni/sub 1-x/) intermetallic precipitates normally present in the as-fabricated material virtually dissolved in the spent-fuel cladding specimens after a fast-neutron fluence of approx.4 x 10/sup 21/ ncm/sup -2/ in the power reactors. The observed radiation-induced phase transformations are compared with predictions based on the currently available understanding of the alloy characteristics. 29 refs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA). Materials Science and Technology Div.
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5462312
• Report Number(s): CONF-860605-20; ON: TI86014487
• Resource Relation: Conference: 13. international symposium on the effects of radiation on materials, Seattle, WA, USA, 23 Jun 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CANS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
ZIRCALOY
IRRADIATION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NEUTRONS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ALLOYS
BARYONS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
NUCLEONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
TIN ALLOYS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS
360106* - Metals & Alloys- Radiation Effects
210100 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled