SEDL / STP / STP1295-EB / STP16192S

Influence of Neutron Irradiation on Dislocation Structure and Phase Composition of Zr-Base Alloys

Shishov, VN
Senior scientific officer, leader of laboratory, leading scientific officer, senior scientific officer, A. A. Bochvar All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials, Moscow,

Nikulina, AV
Senior scientific officer, leader of laboratory, leading scientific officer, senior scientific officer, A. A. Bochvar All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials, Moscow,

Markelov, VA
Senior scientific officer, leader of laboratory, leading scientific officer, senior scientific officer, A. A. Bochvar All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials, Moscow,

Peregud, MM
Senior scientific officer, leader of laboratory, leading scientific officer, senior scientific officer, A. A. Bochvar All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials, Moscow,

Kozlov, AV
Leader of laboratory, senior scientific officer, scientific officer, Research and Designe Institute of Power Engineering, Zarechny, Ekaterinbourg region

Averin, SA
Leader of laboratory, senior scientific officer, scientific officer, Research and Designe Institute of Power Engineering, Zarechny, Ekaterinbourg region

Kolbenkov, SA
Leader of laboratory, senior scientific officer, scientific officer, Research and Designe Institute of Power Engineering, Zarechny, Ekaterinbourg region

Novoselov, AE
Senior scientific officer, V. I. Lenin Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors, Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanov region

Pages: 20    Published: Jan 1996

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Abstract

Studied were evolution of dislocation structure, phase, and element composition of binary alloys Zr-1Nb and Zr-2.5Nb and multicomponent alloys Zr-1Nb-1.2Sn-0.4Fe and Zr-1.2Sn-0.4Fe under neutron irradiation. The investigations were carried out using cladding and pressure tubes before and after irradiation to a fluence of ∼10²⁶ n/m² (E ≥ 0.1 MeV) in experimental and commercial reactors at 300 to 350°C using TEM, EDX, and XRD. In most cases, irradiation-induced defects are in the form of dislocation loops with Burgers vector 1/3 ⟨1120⟩. The density of dislocations with a ⟨c⟩ component is less than 2 × 10¹⁴ m^-2. A higher fluence or the presence of strain results in the ordering of the dislocation structure of ⟨c⟩ component and ⟨a⟩-type dislocation loops. Before irradiation, the multicomponent alloys contain fine precipitates of Zr-Nb-Fe composition, and the matrix is depleted in Fe. Under irradiation, recrystallization proceeds intensively (as distinct from Zr-Nb alloys), changes take place in size, distribution, and composition of precipitates (with a relative decrease of Fe content compared to Nb), and the Fecontent of α-Zr matrix is increased. None of the materials studied showed any significant evidence of secondary phase particle amorphization. The density of dislocations with ⟨a⟩ and ⟨c⟩ components and irradiation-induced defects, their mean size, the extent of ordering, and the planes of their occurrence were determined. A comparison was made between irradiation-induced evolutions of microstructures of the different alloys.