Texture-property relationships in the uranium-2. 4 weight percent niobium alloy

Conference · Fri Jan 08 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6881350

Anderson, R C; Carpenter, D A; Kollie, T G; Smith, D D

Because the distances between atoms vary with direction within a crystal, the properties of a crystal also vary with direction. Such property variations are called crystalline anisotropy, and the amount of anisotropy depends on the symmetry of the crystal structure. The alpha-phases of uranium depends on the symmetry of the crystal structure. The alpha-phases of uranium and uranium alloys are of orthorhombic symmetry and, thus, are highly anisotropic. Normally, uranium and uranium alloys consist of polycrystalline aggregates (grains) whose crystal axes are orientated randomly with respect to each other; however, mechanic deformation can align preferentially the crystal axes of the grains to form a textured structure. In particular, forward extrusion of the uranium-2.4 wt % niobium alloy aligns the a axis of the alpha-phase parallel to the extrusion direction and the b axis transverse to the extrusion direction. Axis-density distribution charts show that the texture of the uranium-2.4 wt % niobium alloy is a function of the extrusion ratio. The linear thermal expansion of the uranium-2.4 wt % niobium alloy is reduced transverse to the extrusion direction and is increased parallel to the extrusion direction. The effect of anisotropy on tensile properties also is discussed. It is concluded that the properties of mechanically deformed, alpha-phase uranium and uranium alloys depend on the texture.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6881350
• Report Number(s): Y/DV-210; CONF-8105139-6; ON: DE83004700
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360100* -- Metals & Alloys
ACTINIDE ALLOYS
ALLOYS
ANISOTROPY
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DEFORMATION
DIFFRACTION
EXPANSION
EXTRUSION
FABRICATION
MATERIALS WORKING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
SCATTERING
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TEXTURE
THERMAL EXPANSION
URANIUM ALLOYS
URANIUM BASE ALLOYS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION