Method of increasing the phase stability and the compressive yield strength of uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy

Patent · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:865943

Anderson, Robert C ^[1]

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1. Crossville, TN

A uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy characterized by high strength, high ductility and stable microstructure is fabricated by an improved thermal mechanical process. A homogenous ingot of the alloy which has been reduced in thickness of at least 50% in the two-step forging operation, rolled into a plate with a 75% reduction and then heated in vacuum at a temperature of about 750.degree. to 850.degree. C. and then quenched in water is subjected to further thermal-mechanical operation steps to increase the compressive yield strength approximately 30%, stabilize the microstructure, and decrease the variations in mechanical properties throughout the plate is provided. These thermal-mechanical steps are achieved by cold rolling the quenched plate to reduce the thickness thereof about 8 to 12%, aging the cold rolled plate at a first temperature of about 325.degree. to 375.degree. C. for five to six hours and then aging the plate at a higher temperature ranging from 480.degree. to 500.degree. C. for five to six hours prior to cooling the billet to ambient conditions and sizing the billet or plate into articles provides the desired increase in mechanical properties and phase stability throughout the plate.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4604148
• OSTI ID: 865943
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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12
30
325
375
480
50
500
75
750
850
achieved
aging
alloy
ambient
ambient conditions
approximately
articles
billet
characterized
cold
cold rolled
cold rolling
compressive
compressive yield
conditions
cooling
decrease
degree
desired
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fabricated
five
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heated
homogenous
hours
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improved
improved thermal
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increasing
ingot
mechanical
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mechanical properties
method
microstructure
operation
phase
phase stability
plate
prior
process
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provided
provides
quenched
ranging
reduce
reduced
reduction
rolled
rolling
six
six hours
sizing
stability
stabilize
stable
steps
strength
subjected
temperature
temperature ranging
thermal
thermal-mechanical
thickness
throughout
two-step
uranium-1
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variations
water
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yield
yield strength
zirconium
zirconium alloy