Factors affecting the anisotropy of irradiation creep and growth of zirconium alloys

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Acta Metall.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6160(79)90201-3· OSTI ID:6060229

Holt, R A; Ibrahim, E F

The long term dimensional changes of zirconium alloys in a nuclear reactor core are attributed to generation of equal numbers of vacancies and interstitials by fast neutrons and their condensation at various sinks. The dimensional changes are anisotropic because the microstructures are anisotropic and thus the sinks have anisotropic distributions. Relationships were derived between anisotropy of in-reactor creep and growth of zirconium alloys with their crystallographic texture and grain shape. We conclude that growth occurs primarily by the partitioning of interstitials to dislocations or prismatic loops and vacancies to grain boundaries. Two strain producing mechanisms of creep are considered; climb and glide. Measured creep anisotropy agrees more closely with a glide model. Thus creep and growth can be treated additively to give predictions of the behaviour of zirconium alloy reactor components.

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 6060229
• Journal Information: Acta Metall.; (United States), Journal Name: Acta Metall.; (United States) Vol. 27:8; ISSN AMETA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
ALLOYS
ANISOTROPY
BARYONS
CHROMIUM ADDITIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CREEP
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IRON ADDITIONS
IRON ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRONS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NUCLEONS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POINT DEFECTS
PRESSURE TUBES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION FLUX
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUBES
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCALOY 2
ZIRCONIUM
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS