Method of increasing the phase stability and the compressive yield strength of uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Crossville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865943
- Patent Number(s):
- 4604148
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22F - CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND NON-FERROUS ALLOYS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; increasing; phase; stability; compressive; yield; strength; uranium-1; wt; zirconium; alloy; characterized; ductility; stable; microstructure; fabricated; improved; thermal; mechanical; process; homogenous; ingot; reduced; thickness; 50; two-step; forging; operation; rolled; plate; 75; reduction; heated; vacuum; temperature; 750; degree; 850; quenched; water; subjected; thermal-mechanical; steps; increase; approximately; 30; stabilize; decrease; variations; properties; throughout; provided; achieved; cold; rolling; reduce; 12; aging; 325; 375; five; six; hours; ranging; 480; 500; prior; cooling; billet; ambient; conditions; sizing; articles; provides; desired; temperature ranging; phase stability; ambient conditions; improved thermal; zirconium alloy; mechanical properties; cold rolled; cold rolling; yield strength; compressive yield; six hours; hours prior; mechanical process; /148/
Citation Formats
Anderson, Robert C. Method of increasing the phase stability and the compressive yield strength of uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web.
Anderson, Robert C. Method of increasing the phase stability and the compressive yield strength of uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy. United States.
Anderson, Robert C. Wed .
"Method of increasing the phase stability and the compressive yield strength of uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865943.
@article{osti_865943,
title = {Method of increasing the phase stability and the compressive yield strength of uranium-1 to 3 wt. % zirconium alloy},
author = {Anderson, Robert C},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1986},
month = {1}
}