Effect of stress on radiation damage in neutron irradiated zirconium alloys

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1520/STP35584S· OSTI ID:6760529

Northwood, D O; Gilbert, R W; Coleman, C E

Structures developed in zirconium alloys during irradiation creep have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Alloys investigated were annealed Zircaloy-2, cold-worked Zircaloy-2 and cold-worked Zr-2.5 Nb pressure tube material. Thin films were taken from material deformed in the NRU, NRX and Pickering-3 reactors at temperatures of 530 to 600/sup 0/K under stresses of 117 to 552 MPa giving strains in the range 0.14 to 8.8%. Stress-induced orientation of dislocation loops makes a negligible contribution to irradiation creep at all stresses. At the lower stresses (and hence strains), the size and distribution of the damage is unaffected by stress, being the same in the head and gage sections of creep specimens. At higher stresses (strains), there is much clearing of the damage by plastic deformation. The deformation however is very uneven, producing structures in different grains of the same specimen that can show no deformation, swaths cleared of irradiation damage, or dislocation tangles or cell formation. The relevance of these TEM observations to irradiation creep mechanisms is discussed.

• Research Organization: Chalk River Nuclear Labs., Ont.
• OSTI ID: 6760529
• Journal Information: Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States) Vol. 633; ISSN ASTTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
ALLOYS
ANNEALING
CANDU TYPE REACTORS
CHROMIUM ADDITIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
COLD WORKING
CREEP
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DEFORMATION
FABRICATION
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
IRON ADDITIONS
IRON ALLOYS
MATERIALS WORKING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PRESSURE TUBE REACTORS
PRESSURE TUBES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
STRESSES
THERMAL REACTORS
TIN ALLOYS
TUBES
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCALOY 2
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS