Deformation mechanisms and inter-granular stresses in Zircaloy-4 and Zr-2.5%Nb

Zanellata, Olivier (2009). Deformation mechanisms and inter-granular stresses in Zircaloy-4 and Zr-2.5%Nb. PhD thesis The Open University.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0000ed3a

Abstract

Zirconium alloys have interesting properties for structural applications in the core of a nuclear reactor: they are transparent to neutrons and have good mechanical and corrosion properties. Zircaloy-4 is used for tube cladding or pressure vessels while the main application of Zr2.5%Nb is pressure tubes. However the crystal structure of the dominant phase at room temperature is hexagonal close packed (hep) and shows a very strong thermo-mechanical anisotropy that can affect the deformation behaviour of a polycrystal aggregate and give rise to intergranular stresses. It is particularly important to understand the deformation mechanisms at the microscopic length-scale both for processing optimisation and for service life predictions and improvements.

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