Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength
Low-alloyed zirconium alloys are widely used in nuclear applications due to their low neutron absorption cross-section. These alloys, however, suffer from limited strength. Well-established guidelines for the development of Ti alloys were applied to design new two-phase ternary Zr alloys with improv...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/418 |
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| author | Anna Veverková Dalibor Preisler Mariia Zimina Tereza Košutová Petr Harcuba Miloš Janeček Josef Stráský |
| author_facet | Anna Veverková Dalibor Preisler Mariia Zimina Tereza Košutová Petr Harcuba Miloš Janeček Josef Stráský |
| author_sort | Anna Veverková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low-alloyed zirconium alloys are widely used in nuclear applications due to their low neutron absorption cross-section. These alloys, however, suffer from limited strength. Well-established guidelines for the development of Ti alloys were applied to design new two-phase ternary Zr alloys with improved mechanical properties. Zr-4Sn-4Nb and Zr-8Sn-4Nb alloys have been manufactured by vacuum arc melting, thermo-mechanically processed by annealing, forging, and aging to various microstructural conditions and thoroughly characterized. Detailed Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the microstructural response of the alloys is rather similar to alpha + beta Ti alloys. Duplex microstructure containing primary alpha phase particles surrounded by lamellar alpha + beta microstructure can be achieved by thermal processing. Mechanical properties strongly depend on the previous treatment. Ultimate tensile strength exceeding 700 MPa was achieved exceeding the strength of commercial Zr alloys for nuclear applications by more than 50%. Such an improvement in strength more than compensates for the increased neutron absorption cross-section. This study aims to exploit the potential of alpha + beta Zr alloys for nuclear applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:36:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48b8c81df5d84515a0edb6ce61533a79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:36:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-48b8c81df5d84515a0edb6ce61533a792023-12-03T13:26:57ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-01-0114241810.3390/ma14020418Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced StrengthAnna Veverková0Dalibor Preisler1Mariia Zimina2Tereza Košutová3Petr Harcuba4Miloš Janeček5Josef Stráský6Department of Physics of Materials, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Physics of Materials, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague, Czech RepublicResearch Centre Rez, Hlavní 130, 25068 Husinec-Řež, Czech RepublicDepartment of Condensed Matter Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Physics of Materials, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Physics of Materials, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Physics of Materials, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague, Czech RepublicLow-alloyed zirconium alloys are widely used in nuclear applications due to their low neutron absorption cross-section. These alloys, however, suffer from limited strength. Well-established guidelines for the development of Ti alloys were applied to design new two-phase ternary Zr alloys with improved mechanical properties. Zr-4Sn-4Nb and Zr-8Sn-4Nb alloys have been manufactured by vacuum arc melting, thermo-mechanically processed by annealing, forging, and aging to various microstructural conditions and thoroughly characterized. Detailed Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the microstructural response of the alloys is rather similar to alpha + beta Ti alloys. Duplex microstructure containing primary alpha phase particles surrounded by lamellar alpha + beta microstructure can be achieved by thermal processing. Mechanical properties strongly depend on the previous treatment. Ultimate tensile strength exceeding 700 MPa was achieved exceeding the strength of commercial Zr alloys for nuclear applications by more than 50%. Such an improvement in strength more than compensates for the increased neutron absorption cross-section. This study aims to exploit the potential of alpha + beta Zr alloys for nuclear applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/418zirconium alloysscanning electron microscopymicrostructuremechanical propertiesneutron cross-section |
| spellingShingle | Anna Veverková Dalibor Preisler Mariia Zimina Tereza Košutová Petr Harcuba Miloš Janeček Josef Stráský Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength Materials zirconium alloys scanning electron microscopy microstructure mechanical properties neutron cross-section |
| title | Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength |
| title_full | Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength |
| title_fullStr | Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength |
| title_short | Novel α + β Zr Alloys with Enhanced Strength |
| title_sort | novel α β zr alloys with enhanced strength |
| topic | zirconium alloys scanning electron microscopy microstructure mechanical properties neutron cross-section |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/418 |
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