Quantifying Irradiation Defects in Zirconium Alloys

Quantifying Irradiation Defects in Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: Levente Balogh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Irradiation
Languages : en
Pages : 34

Get Book Here

Book Description
Irradiation-induced dislocations significantly affect the mechanical properties of zirconium alloys, altering slip and influencing creep and growth. Thus, the quantitative characterization of irradiation defects as a function of fluence, cold work, and/or thermal treatments is important for models that attempt to predict their impact on properties. Whole-pattern diffraction line-profile analysis (DLPA) is a well-established modern tool for microstructure characterization based on first-principle physical models for dislocation density measurements in plastically deformed materials. However, applying these DLPA methods directly to irradiated materials yields higher than expected dislocation density values compared with historical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements and past line-broadening analysis studies calibrated to TEM observations. In an effort to understand these differences, a new microstructural model was developed for DLPA to specifically address dislocation structures consisting of elliptical a- and c-component loops. To compare the refined DLPA method with TEM measurements, high-resolution neutron diffraction patterns on nonirradiated and irradiated Zr-2.5Nb samples were collected with the Neutron Powder Diffractometer instrument at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and were evaluated. High-resolution TEM measurements were performed at the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory, Queen's University, for comparison with the DLPA results. The capabilities and inherent uncertainties of both the refined DLPA and TEM methods are compared and discussed in detail. We show that the differences between the density values provided by DLPA and TEM are inherent to the methods and can be reconciled with the interpretation of the data.

Quantifying Irradiation Defects in Zirconium Alloys

Quantifying Irradiation Defects in Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: Levente Balogh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Irradiation
Languages : en
Pages : 34

Get Book Here

Book Description
Irradiation-induced dislocations significantly affect the mechanical properties of zirconium alloys, altering slip and influencing creep and growth. Thus, the quantitative characterization of irradiation defects as a function of fluence, cold work, and/or thermal treatments is important for models that attempt to predict their impact on properties. Whole-pattern diffraction line-profile analysis (DLPA) is a well-established modern tool for microstructure characterization based on first-principle physical models for dislocation density measurements in plastically deformed materials. However, applying these DLPA methods directly to irradiated materials yields higher than expected dislocation density values compared with historical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements and past line-broadening analysis studies calibrated to TEM observations. In an effort to understand these differences, a new microstructural model was developed for DLPA to specifically address dislocation structures consisting of elliptical a- and c-component loops. To compare the refined DLPA method with TEM measurements, high-resolution neutron diffraction patterns on nonirradiated and irradiated Zr-2.5Nb samples were collected with the Neutron Powder Diffractometer instrument at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and were evaluated. High-resolution TEM measurements were performed at the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory, Queen's University, for comparison with the DLPA results. The capabilities and inherent uncertainties of both the refined DLPA and TEM methods are compared and discussed in detail. We show that the differences between the density values provided by DLPA and TEM are inherent to the methods and can be reconciled with the interpretation of the data.

Experimental and Modeling Approach of Irradiation Defects Recovery in Zirconium Alloys

Experimental and Modeling Approach of Irradiation Defects Recovery in Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: Joël Ribis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Annealing
Languages : en
Pages : 22

Get Book Here

Book Description
During neutron irradiation, both interstitial and vacancy loops are formed in high concentration in zirconium alloys. Due to this high density of loops, the material is considerably hardened, but the recovery of the radiation damage during a heat treatment leads to a progressive softening of the irradiated material. The recovery of the radiation induced hardening has been investigated using microhardness tests. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations performed on irradiated foils have also shown that the loop density falls while the loop size increases during the thermal annealing. Furthermore, the TEM analysis has revealed that only vacancy loops are present in the material after long term annealing, the interstitial loops having entirely disappeared. A numerical cluster dynamic modeling has also been used in order to reproduce the material recovery for various annealing conditions. The microstructural evolution during mechanical testing with various loading conditions has also been studied. It has been shown that during a creep test with low applied stress (130 MPa) and high temperature (450°C), the microstructure evolution can essentially be explained by the thermal recovery of the loops leading to glide of dislocations as found for an non-irradiated material. At intermediate temperature (400°C), it is shown that for low stress level (130 MPa) the microstructure evolution can also be explained by the thermal recovery of loops, whereas for higher stress (250 MPa), sweeping of loops by gliding dislocations can also occur. In addition, for an applied stress of 130 MPa and a temperature of 400°C, dislocation density is higher in the irradiated material than in the non-irradiated material deformed in the same conditions. It is also shown that secondary slip systems are more activated in the irradiated material than in the non-irradiated material. From this detailed analysis, the mechanical behavior during creep is interpreted in terms of microscopic deformation mechanisms.

Diffusion and Defect Studies in Zirconium and some of its Alloys

Diffusion and Defect Studies in Zirconium and some of its Alloys PDF Author: R.P. Agarwala
Publisher: Trans Tech Publications Ltd
ISBN: 303570628X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 90

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book is divided into two parts: the first part describes diffusion processes, and the second part describes radiation damage to - and cold-working of - zirconium and some of its important alloys.

Irradiation Damage Recovery in Some Zirconium Alloys

Irradiation Damage Recovery in Some Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: GJC Carpenter
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electron microscopy
Languages : en
Pages : 16

Get Book Here

Book Description
The recovery of irradiation damage in a number of zirconium alloys has been studied by means of hardness measurements. The experiments were designed to examine the effect of different solutes (copper, aluminum, titanium, niobium, molybdenum) and metallurgical condition on the stability of irradiation-induced defect clusters.

Creep of Zirconium Alloys in Nuclear Reactors

Creep of Zirconium Alloys in Nuclear Reactors PDF Author:
Publisher: ASTM International
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 308

Get Book Here

Book Description


Study of Point Defect Mobilities in Zirconium During Electron Irradiation in a HVEM

Study of Point Defect Mobilities in Zirconium During Electron Irradiation in a HVEM PDF Author: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Publisher: Chalk River, Ont. : Chalk River Laboratories
ISBN:
Category : Alloys
Languages : en
Pages : 34

Get Book Here

Book Description
A high voltage electron microscope (HVEM) was used to investigate the nature of intrinsic point effects in a-Zirconium by direct observation of dislocation climb and cavity growth or shrinkage. The material used was Marz-grade zirconium that had been pre-irradiated with neutrons at 740 K in the Dounreay Fast Reactor. Dislocation loops of vacancy character that were produced during the neutron irradiation were studied by further irradiation with electrons in the HVEM. C-component network dislocations and cavities were also studied.

Transmission electron microscopy of irradiation induced defects on zirconium alloys

Transmission electron microscopy of irradiation induced defects on zirconium alloys PDF Author: D. O. Northwood
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description


The formation of c-component defects in zirconium alloys during neutron irradiation

The formation of c-component defects in zirconium alloys during neutron irradiation PDF Author: M. Griffiths
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description


Impact of Irradiation Damage Recovery During Transportation on the Subsequent Room Temperature Tensile Behavior of Irradiated Zirconium Alloys

Impact of Irradiation Damage Recovery During Transportation on the Subsequent Room Temperature Tensile Behavior of Irradiated Zirconium Alloys PDF Author: B. Bourdiliau
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Deformation mechanisms
Languages : en
Pages : 25

Get Book Here

Book Description
Zirconium alloys are commonly used in pressurized water reactor as fuel rod cladding tubes. After irradiation and cooling in pool, the spent nuclear fuel assemblies are either transported for wet storage to a devoted site or loaded in suitable casks for dry storage on a nuclear power plant site. During dry transportation or at the beginning of dry storage, at temperatures around 400°C, the cladding experiences a creep deformation under the hoop stress induced by the internal pressure of the fuel rod. During creep, a recovery of the radiation damage can occur that can affect the subsequent mechanical properties. The mechanical behavior of the cladding has been investigated in laboratory on two neutron irradiated cladding materials: fully recrystallized Zr-1 % Nb and stress-relieved Zircaloy-4. Creep tests under internal pressure were conducted at 400 and 420°C. After depressurization and cooling, ring tensile tests were carried out at room temperature. In addition, transmission electron microscopy observations have been performed after testing. The post-creep mechanical response exhibited a decrease of the strength compared to the as-irradiated material. This decrease is associated with a significant recovery of the ductility, which becomes close to the ductility of the unirradiated material. The transmission electron microscopy examinations, conducted on recrystallized Zr-1 % Nb ring samples, revealed that the radiation defects have been annealed. It was also observed that as for the unirradiated material, the deformation occurred homogeneously throughout the grains. No dislocation channeling was observed contrary to the as-irradiated material. These observations explain the recovery of the strength and of the ductility after post-irradiation creep that may also occur during dry transportation or at the beginning of dry storage.

Mechanical Properties of Irradiated Zirconium, Zircaloy, and Aluminum

Mechanical Properties of Irradiated Zirconium, Zircaloy, and Aluminum PDF Author: Richard E. Schreiber
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aluminum alloys
Languages : en
Pages : 112

Get Book Here

Book Description