Study of Second Phase Particles and Fe content in Zr Alloys Using the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne
We have conducted a study of second phase particles and matrix alloying element concentrations in zirconium alloys using synchrotron radiation from the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory. The high flux of synchrotron radiation delivered at the 2BM beamline compared to conventional x-ray generators, enables the detection of very small precipitate volume fractions. We detected the standard C14 hcp Zr(Cr,Fe)2 precipitates, (the stable second phase in Zircaloy-4) in the bulk material at a cumulative annealing parameter as low as 10-20 h, and we followed the kinetics of precipitation and growth as a function of the cumulative annealing parameter (CAP) in the range 10-22 (quench) to 10-16 h. In addition, the unique combination of spatial resolution and elemental sensitivity of the 2ID-D/E microbeam line at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne (APS) allows study of the alloying element concentrations at ppm levels in an area as small as 0.2 mm. We used x-ray fluorescence induced by this sub-micron x-ray beam to determine the concentration of these alloying elements in the matrix as a function of alloy type and thermal history. We discuss these results and the potential of synchrotron radiation-based techniques for studying zirconium alloys.
- Research Organization:
- The Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-98ID13637
- OSTI ID:
- 791504
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/13637; ISSN 0148-7191; TRN: US0200752
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 7 Nov 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Microbeam X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy of alloying elements in the oxide layers of irradiated Zircaloy-2 - 2016-0076
Justification for the development of a bending magnet beamline at sector 10 at the APS.