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Strengthening of ordered Zr/sub 3/Al by fast neutron irradiation

Journal Article · · Acta Metall.; (United States)
The room temperature tensile properties have been measured of Zr/sub 3/Al irradiated by fast neutrons to a dose of 1.4 x 10/sup 24/ n/m/sup 2/. Yielding occurs discontinuously and is accompanied by the propagation of a Lueders band within which the strain, epsilon/sub L//sup phi/, is given by epsilon/sub L//sup phi/ = lambda/sup phi/d/sup -1/2/, where lambda/sup phi/ is an experimental parameter and d is the average grain size. The flow stress, sigma/sub f//sup phi/, including the yield strength, obeys an expression of the form sigma/sub f//sup phi/ = sigma/sub 0//sup phi/(epsilon) + k/sup phi/d/sup -1/2/ where sigma/sub 0//sup phi/(epsilon) and k/sup phi/ are experimental parameters; sigma/sub 0//sup phi/(epsilon) increases linearly with plastic strain, epsilon, while k/sup phi/ remains constant. The work-hardening rate is essentially independent of the grain size, as are the tensile strength and the ductility. Fracture occurs in a ductile mode. When compared with the behavior of unirradiated material, the results show that the irradiation increases the yield strength and decreases the work-hardening rate, but has little effect on the tensile strength, ductility and fracture.
Research Organization:
Chalk River Nuclear Lab., Ont.
OSTI ID:
6556563
Journal Information:
Acta Metall.; (United States), Journal Name: Acta Metall.; (United States) Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 26:8; ISSN AMETA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English