Plasma arc melting of zirconium
Zirconium, like some other refractory metals, has an undesirable sensitivity to interstitials such as oxygen. Traditionally, zirconium is processed by electron beam melting to maintain minimum interstitial contamination. Electron beam melted zirconium, however, does not respond positively to mechanical processing due to its large grain size. The authors undertook a study to determine if plasma arc melting (PAM) technology could be utilized to maintain low interstitial concentrations and improve the response of zirconium to subsequent mechanical processing. The PAM process enabled them to control and maintain low interstitial levels of oxygen and carbon, produce a more favorable grain structure, and with supplementary off-gassing, improve the response to mechanical forming.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., Materials Science and Technology Div., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 638217
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-97-4406; CONF-971168-; ON: DE98003719; TRN: 98:009893
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1997 international conference on tungsten, refractory metals and alloys, Lake Buena Vista, FL (United States), 17-19 Nov 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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