Investigation of the thermal creep behaviour of non-irradiated Zr1%Nb cladding alloys between 623 and 1223K

0573358 - ÚFM 2024 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Sklenička, Václav - Kuchařová, Květa - Král, Petr - Dvořák, Jiří - Kvapilová, Marie - Vrtílková, V. - Krejcí, J.
Investigation of the thermal creep behaviour of non-irradiated Zr1%Nb cladding alloys between 623 and 1223K.
Journal of Nuclear Materials. Roč. 583, SEP (2023), č. článku 154518. ISSN 0022-3115. E-ISSN 1873-4820
Institutional support: RVO:68081723
Keywords : Zirconium alloys * Creep * Creep testing * Deformation mechanisms * Microstructural processes
OECD category: Materials engineering
Impact factor: 3.1, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022311523002854?via%3Dihub

Short-term constant stress creep tests in tension were performed on two zirconium Zr1%Nb cladding alloys in the form of thin-walled cladding tubes in the temperature range of 623-1173 K and at the applied tensile stress sigma range of 5 - 225 MPa to provide further information on their creep behaviour in the alpha-Zr and (alpha+beta)-Zr phase regions. In parallel, the evolution of the microstructure of the studied alloys was investigated using SEM and TEM microscopy in the as-received state and after creep exposures. Using the dependence of diffusion coefficientcompensated minimum creep rate vs modulus compensated applied stress the values of the stress rate exponent n = ( partial differential ln epsilon m/ partial differential ln sigma)T were determined ranging from -2.5 up to -16 depending on the applied stress and testing temperature. The stress-dependant activation energy for creep QC=[ partial differential ln epsilon m/ partial differential (-1/kT)]sigma was determined and possible creep deformation mechanisms as well as creep strengthening mechanisms are discussed. Under the loading conditions used in this study three distinct stress regions were identified according to the relevant controlling creep deformation mechanisms.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0344433