Formation of very large ‘blocky alpha’ grains in Zircaloy-4
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Tong, VS
Britton, TB
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Understanding microstructure and its evolution is very important in safety critical components such as cladding in nuclear reactors. Zirconium alloys are used as cladding materials due to their low neutron capture cross section, good mechanical properties and reasonable corrosion resistance. These properties are optimised, including grain size and texture control, to maximise performance in thin (<1 mm wall thickness) tubes in water reactors. Here we show that very large grains (>0.5 mm) can be generated systematically during controlled deformation and subsequent heat treatments. We observe that the texture of these grains is controlled either by twinning or prior texture, depending on the strain path. Their nucleation, growth and texture can be controlled through strain path and deformation level. This work provides detailed understanding of the formation of these very large grains in Zircaloy-4, and also opens up opportunities for large single crystal fabrication for mm scale mechanical testing.
Date Issued
2017-05-01
Date Acceptance
2017-03-02
Citation
Acta Materialia, 2017, 129 (1), pp.510-520
ISSN
1359-6454
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
510
End Page
520
Journal / Book Title
Acta Materialia
Volume
129
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Royal Academy Of Engineering
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359645417301817
Grant Number
EP/K034332/1
RF/129
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Materials Science
Zirconium
Grain-growth
Recrystallisation
Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)
HEAT-TREATMENT
DEFORMATION
GROWTH
ZIRCONIUM
TEMPERATURE
HYDRIDE
RECRYSTALLIZATION
ORIENTATION
EVOLUTION
TITANIUM
Materials
0204 Condensed Matter Physics
0912 Materials Engineering
0913 Mechanical Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-03-03