Effect of dispersion and spheroidization treatment of delta zirconium hydrides on the mechanical properties of Zircaloy

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5741108

Lin, S C ^[1]; Hamasaki, M; Chuang, Y D

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1. National Tsing Hua Univ., Hsinchu, Taiwan

This study is basic research on some mechanical properties of Zircaloy-4 and Zircaloy-2 addressed particularly to the influence of hydrogen attack and of the hydride-orientation and -shape effect. At room temperature, Zircaloy-4 has almost the same tensile properties as does Zircaloy-2, both before and after hydriding. Zircaloy-4 may serve well if its hydrogen content is lower than 300 ppm, although hydrogen embrittlement can be alleviated by elevated temperature. If we performed a spheroidization treatment on the platelet hydrogen in the matrix, it may serve satisfactorily when the hydrogen content is 650 ppm or more. Tensile tests of annealed Zircaloy-2 specimens, of hydrided specimens, and of spheroidized specimens containing two different hydrogen concentrations were carried out at temperatures up to 700/sup 0/C. The strain-rate effect on the mechanical properties was also studied for Zircaloy-2 specimens. The results show that a spheroidization treatment of the hydrided Zircaloy-2 can improve its mechanical properties - i.e., its ductility, toughness, and strength - as well as its hardenability.

• OSTI ID: 5741108
• Journal Information: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 71:3; ISSN NSENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ALLOYS
ANNEALING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM ADDITIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
HEAT TREATMENTS
HYDRIDATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON ADDITIONS
IRON ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCALOY 2
ZIRCALOY 4
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM HYDRIDES